Healthy Grichuk returns

By Douglas Miles

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids outfielder Randal Grichuk knows a thing or two about adversity. Four trips to the disabled list in a calendar year will do that to you.

“It's frustrating,” Grichuk said after the Kernels lost to Beloit, 10-5, before 5,034 fans Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “But you kind of got to go with the flow. It's just obstacles that you've got to overcome.”

Grichuk, 19, was drafted one spot ahead of L.A. Angel Mike Trout in the first round of the 2009 draft and appeared to be on a similar path to the major leagues after leading the Arizona League in hits and triples in 2009.

After a 2010 promotion to Cedar Rapids, the injury bug began to bite. A torn ligament in his right thumb cost him 2 1/2 months. A broken wrist from an outfield wall collision ended his regular season in its final week.

This season hasn't been any kinder. After fracturing his knee cap on his own foul ball during spring training in Arizona, his return to Cedar Rapids was delayed two months when he sprained an MCL during an extended spring training rehab game.

Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro said Grichuk's return is a relief for the teenager.

“He's been in Arizona for a long time,” Del Chiaro said. “He's getting back into the flow of just being in a more competitive environment, and hopefully he can take off here and just get more comfortable, get his feet underneath him, and, you know, hopefully prepare to finish strong.”

Despite four  hits, an RBI and a run from Grichuk, the Kernels (14-20 second half) dropped the opener of the homestand with a ninth loss in 12 games.

Beloit pitcher B.J. Hermsen, who prepped at West Delaware, gave up three earned runs in six innings for his eighth win in his last nine decisions.

Kernels pitcher Seth Fowler struggled in his first start, surrendering seven hits and four earned runs in the first two innings. Fowler replaced Max Russell in the rotation after Russell's Wednesday promotion to high-A Inland Empire.

The teams play again Sunday at 2.