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Brian Dinkelman back at the helm for Cedar Rapids Kernels
In his 5th season as manager, his 9th on the coaching staff, “Dink” led Kernels to 2023 Midwest League championship and was named manager of the year in the minor leagues last year by Baseball America
Apr. 8, 2024 3:34 pm, Updated: Apr. 8, 2024 4:18 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS — At this point, you’d have to say he’s one of us. Whether he cares to be or not.
This is Brian Dinkelman’s ninth season as a member of the Cedar Rapids Kernels coaching staff. It’s his fifth as the club’s manager.
He’s not a year-around resident of the City of Five Seasons anymore. Dinkelman, his wife, Randi, and their daughter, Sydney, moved a couple of years ago to the Illinois side in the St. Louis area, where they have family.
But for almost six months a year, he’s ... one of us.
“I enjoy being here,” said Dinkelman, whose Kernels play their Midwest League home opener Tuesday night at 6:35 against the Dayton Dragons. “As long as I’m coaching baseball and helping these guys out, doing what I love, which is being around the game of baseball, whether it’s here or somewhere else (it’s good). This is my ninth year, and I’ve enjoyed all nine years here. Whatever avenue I go in my career, I’m happy with it.”
Dinkelman, 40, is a Centralia, Ill., native who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round in 2006 out of McKendree College (now McKendree University) in Lebanon, Ill.
He played professionally as an outfielder and second baseman until 2013, playing 23 games in the big leagues for the Twins. He began his pro coaching career in 2015 as a hitting coach for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins, then came to Cedar Rapids the following season as hitting coach under Manager Jake Mauer.
He became manager in 2019. The Kernels have been a playoff team each season Dinkelman has been here, winning the Midwest League championship last season and having a minor-league best record of 80-56.
Baseball America named him its manager of the year in the minor leagues.
“That was exciting,” he said. “It’s an individual award, but it’s a team award I feel like, too. To win a championship last year, put up the record that we did, it was a testament to the team and the coaching staff that we had. We were able to win some ballgames. It was exciting to win that, but it was a team award, too.”
Dinkelman is known as a player’s manager, a guy who likes to keep things loose in the clubhouse yet is uncompromising when it comes to them getting their work in, playing hard and the proverbial “right way.” His ability to help guys develop is unquestioned.
That, of course, is the primary focus of minor league baseball. Being able to win as well is the cherry on top.
“He has an incredible feel for the game,” Twins farm director Drew MacPhail told Baseball America. ”But he has an incredible feel for (players’) space, too. He’s not their boss, if that makes sense. He’s their leader.”
Dinkelman was asked about his managerial style.
“I think you learn from experience,” he said. “You learn from other coaches. You learn your players you have on your team, and, like you said, you respect them and they respect you. Then you can teach the game and try to help them out as much as possible, help them become a better player and get to the point where they want to in their career.
“I don’t feel like I’m too demanding. They go out there and play hard, (and) I try to teach them the game. Myself and the other coaches work with them to try and make them better. Also you try and win ballgames at the same time. This is the minor leagues, and you have your ups and downs.”
The game has changed since Dinkelman became a coach, analytics and high technology taking over baseball. Even at the minor-league level, there are detailed scouting reports on opposing teams and players.
“I think players are more informed now,” Dinkelman said. “They have more information about other teams, how to prepare, stuff like that. They’re still kids, still learning how to play the game. We’re just trying to help them along a little bit and have some fun, too. Because if you’re spending six months together, you need to have fun with each other, that’s for sure.”
Dinkelman billets with his sister and brother-in-law in Tiffin during the season. Lindsay Alexander is strength and conditioning coach for the Iowa women’s basketball team.
Like his players, he hopes someday to make it to the big leagues. Back to the big leagues.
“At some point, you’d like to get up there,” he said. “It’s the pinnacle of baseball. Whatever route I have to go to get there, I’m happy to take it.”
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
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