Brian Meyer return as manager of Cedar Rapids Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Minnesota Twins announced 2026 coaching staffs for their minor league affiliates Wednesday, including the return of Brian Meyer as manager of the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Meyer led the Kernels to the Midwest League championship series last season. Cedar Rapids won the first-half title in the Western Division and beat Beloit in the division championship series.

The Ohio native managed the low-Class A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels four seasons prior to coming to Cedar Rapids. Prior to professional baseball, Meyer was an assistant coach and director of baseball operations at the Division I college level.

Joining Meyer this season will be co-pitching coaches Hunter Townsend and Erick Julio. This will be a second season with the Kernels for Townsend, while Julio spent last season with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins.

Danny Marcuzzo will be a hitting coach after spending last season as a hitting and development coach with Triple-A Saint Paul. Hitting and development coach Yeison Perez returns to Cedar Rapids after spending the 2023 season here.

He spent the past two seasons with Double-A Wichita.

The support staff will be Morgan Buckley as strength and conditioning coach, Katie Lortie as lead athletic trainer and Morgan Leichtenberger as assistant athletic trainer. Buckley and Leichtenberger were in Cedar Rapids last season, while Lortie was with Saint Paul.

The Kernels open the 2026 season Friday, April 3, at home against the Peoria Chiefs.

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