Cedar Rapids Kernels pop to MWL Western Division first-half championship, but could be even better in second half

CEDAR RAPIDS — The first half of the Midwest League season concluded Thursday night. Because of course it would end on a Thursday night, in the middle of a six-game series.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels fashioned a 40-26 record in their first 66 games, winning the Western Division to qualify for the MWL playoffs for the 10th consecutive year as an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. You can’t beat that.

They finished hot, too, winning nine of their final 10 first-half games and 11 of 13. They went 18-6 over their final 24.

The second half began Friday night at home against Beloit, a high-scoring 11-9 loss.

“Guys are making progress,” said Kernels Manager Brian Dinkelman. “We started off a little rocky, but the last seven or eight weeks have been really good. The pitching has been good, the hitters are coming around here the last month or so and scoring some runs, having better at-bats, putting balls in play.

“I think it’s part of the progression of a season. Hopefully the guys are learning a little bit and understanding what we are trying to teach them. Been a good first half for us, and hopefully they can just continue on this (arc) as we go into the second half.”

Cedar Rapids is second in the league in earned run average at 3.56, behind only Great Lakes (3.37), which captured the Eastern Division’s first-half title. Pitching wins games, right?

Starter Pierson Ohl and reliever Regi Grace were promoted together to Double-A Wichita in early June. Generally, Kernels starters have given their team a chance to win most nights, while the bullpen has been good enough to close out those wins.

Dinkelman mentioned lefty Jordan Carr (3-2 record, 1.83 earned run average) as his club’s most consistent starter. Carr is on the seven-day injured list with an elbow strain, though Dinkelman said a recent MRI done on that elbow brought back “good news.”

Bullpen members with good first halves were Grace, right-hander Miguel Rodriguez (2-1 record, 3.78 ERA and 7 saves) and righy John Stankiewicz (4-1, 2 saves, 4.03 ERA), according to Dinkelman. Matthew Swain’s numbers (0-0 record, 2.12 ERA and .161 opponent batting average) have been very good.

Offensively, the Kernels finished ninth out of 12 teams in batting average, though they were fourth in OPS (which means on-base-percentage plus slugging). They have scored the second-most runs in the league thanks in part to 63 home runs, which ranks second in the MWL to West Michigan’s 66.

Jace Jung of West Michigan leads the league with 12 homers, but C.R.’s Kala’i Rosario (11), Emmauel Rodriguez (10), Ben Ross (10) and Tanner Schobel (9) are right near the lead. Rosario’s 44 RBIs rank him third in the MWL, with Schobel not far behind with 42.

“(Rosario has) been really good offensively,” Dinkelman said. “He’s helped us out a lot. I think almost everybody has gone through a stretch where they’ve kind of been the guy to carry the team. You have to have that throughout a season. Go through stretches where two guys at a time, they kind of carry a team. Rosy’s done a nice job through May and June. Tanner Schobel has been really good lately. Emmanuel is coming along nicely. Ben Ross had a stretch where he was really good, too. So they’ve all contributed quite a bit.”

The thing about the lineup is it is very young and likely to stick around Veterans Memorial Stadium the rest of the season. You’ve seen recent upticks from Rodriguez, fellow outfielder Misael Urbina, infielders Noah Miller and Jose Salas, young guys who look like they will produce better second-half numbers.

“Position player wise, I wouldn’t expect a ton (of movement) just because we’re so young,” Dinkelman said. “That’s not saying we couldn’t have a few. Guys go up, injuries, trades, things like that. You don’t know what could happen in the second half. I do think the core will be here the majority of the season.”

That’s really exciting. It’s awesome that the Twins have put 10 straight Midwest League playoff clubs into Cedar Rapids, but the city would definitely like to win a championship.

Got about two months before the quest for that happens. It could be a fun two months.

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