Familiar look for Cedar Rapids Kernels, as 16 returnees on opening-day 2016 roster

CEDAR RAPIDS — You don't have to worry about getting to know 'em, because you already do.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels released their 2016 opening-day roster Sunday afternoon, and a staggering 16 of the 25 players on it spent time here last season. That includes 10 of the 13 pitchers.

Outfielders LaMonte Wade and Max Murphy, as well as infielders Chris Paul and Rafael Valera were in the postseason lineup for the Kernels, who lost in a deciding Game 5 of the Midwest League Championship Series. Outfielder Jorge Fernandez and infielder Sean Miller also spent time in Cedar Rapids.

Pitchers Sam Gibbons and Randy LeBlanc started games in that title series. Zack Tillery, Michael Theofanopoulos, Nick Anderson, Michael Cederoth, Sam Clay, John Curtiss, C.K. Irby and Dereck Rodriguez also played varying pitching roles throughout the 2015 season.

The only three new faces on the pitching staff are Taiwanese right-hander Kuo Hau Lo, right-handed starter Andro Cutura and righty reliever Logan Lombana. The highest-profile new position player is shortstop Jermaine Palacios, a 19-year-old Venezuelan shortstop who hit a whopping .370 in 57 combined games at two Rookie-level stops last season.

Jake Mauer again is the Kernels' Manager, his fourth season. The new hitting coach is Brian Dinkelman, the new pitching coach J.P. Martinez.

Fans are encouraged to greet the team as it arrives at the ballpark from spring training in Florida around 7 p.m. Monday. The annual Meet the Kernels Night is Tuesday, with the season opener Thursday night at home at 6:35 against Quad Cities.

Roster

PITCHERS: 32 Nick Anderson (R, 6-5, 195); 35 Michael Cederoth (R, 6-6, 214); 11 Sam Clay (L, 6-3, 210), 45 John Curtiss (R, 6-5, 210); 13 Andro Cutura (R, 6-0, 195); 26 Sam Gibbons (R, 6-4, 200); 17 C.K. Irby (R, 6-2, 204); 15 Randy LeBlanc (R, 6-4, 213); 44 Kuo Hau Lo (R, 5-10, 199); 24 Logan Lombana (R, 6-2, 220); 31 Dereck Rodriguez (R, 6-1, 175); 43 Michael Theofanopoulos (L, 6-0, 194); 46 Zack Tillery (R, 6-4, 212)

CATCHERS: 33 Bryant Hayman (R, 6-0, 235); 25 A.J. Murray (R, 6-2, 215)

INFIELDERS: 2 Luis Arraez (L/R, 5-10, 177); 4 Sean Miller (R, 5-11, 175); 16 Jermaine Palacios (R, 6-0, 167); 11 Chris Paul (R, 6-3, 200); 18 Rafael Valera (R, 5-11, 180); 21 Zander Wiel (R, 6-3, 232)

OUTFIELDERS: 8 Chris Cavaness (L, 6-2, 187); 20 Jorge Fernandez (S, 6-4, 207); 23 Max Murphy (R, 5-11, 195); 5 Lamonte Wade (L, 6-1, 195)

COACHES: 12 Jake Mauer (Manager); 22 J.P. Martinez (Pitching); 27 Brian Dinkelman (Hitting)

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.comA