Seth Gray seeks to become a force for Cedar Rapids Kernels ... at first base instead of third

CEDAR RAPIDS — It was a defensive play that saved the game. A diving stop at first base that looked more like something you’d see from a guy over at third base.

Which makes sense. Seth Gray was the most-days third baseman last season for the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

He’s got some shortstop in his background, too.

“I believe that since I played shortstop and stuff, that I’ve played third, I feel like I can play anywhere on the field,” Gray said after the Kernels held off Peoria, 4-3, Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “So the adjustment to first hasn’t been too bad.”

Gray played 113 games last season for the Kernels: 104 of them at third base, the other nine as a designated hitter. But the emergence of Christian Encarnacion-Strand as a prospect has pushed Gray away from third so far this season.

He has played in eight of C.R.’s first 10 games, only two at the hot corner. He has been a DH twice and a first baseman three times.

Going back to Tuesday night’s game, Peoria had runners at the corners with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Carlos Soto hit a hard smash off Kernels reliever Osiris German down the first-base line that appeared certain to tie the game, if not put Peoria ahead.

But Gray dived to his left, knocked the ball down, scrambled to his feet, retrieved it a few feet behind him and tossed to German covering for the out. Game saved, Kernels improved to 8-2.

“That was a really good play. Kind of saved the game for us there,” Kernels Manager Brian Dinkelman said. “The ball was hit hard, but he was able to knock it down, kept his cool and recovered and we did the old PFP drill.”

“It was a lefty up, and German throws a cut changeup, so I was just expecting the ball hard at me. As a defender, that’s what I always try to do. Expect the hardest ball at me, and be ready to make the play,” Gray said. “I’ve never been over at first base, so I was just trying to be athletic, help my pitcher, help my team win a ballgame.”

Gray, 23, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2019 out of Wright State. He hit .212 last season for the Kernels, with 11 home runs, though 142 strikeouts were too many, of which he is aware.

Gray’s BABIP was .288, which shows you he can hit it hard when he makes contact. Thus far this season, he is 7-for-22 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs.

He also has drawn five walks and been hit by a pitch twice. That latter thing is no surprise, since he was plunked 17 times last season.

“I’m getting comfortable in the box,” Gray said. “I think it’s just getting more at-bats. That’s kind of how it happens every year. You start getting three, four, five at-bats a game, you just kind of get more comfortable as the year goes on. So my swing has been feeling good, and it’s just try and put the ball in play and do some damage.“

The Kernels won four of six last week at Quad Cities, handing the River Bandits a home series loss for the first time since 2019. The High-A Central League champs did not lose a home series at all last season.

Cedar Rapids swept Beloit three games at home to begin the Midwest League season and is scheduled to host Peoria five more times through Sunday.

“Good starting pitching. They keep us in the game,” Dinkelman said. “Bullpen has been pretty strong, too. We’ve had some timely hitting, some guys get off to good starts, like (Anthony) Prato and Encarnacion. It’s been a good first 10 games.”

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