Kernels’ Doe making unique transition from shortstop to catcher

CEDAR RAPIDS – For Brett Doe, the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft of 2014 provided a wild swing of emotions.

As an older player of 24, there were no guarantees anyone would select him. The Minnesota Twins finally did, in the 38th of 40 rounds.

But it came with a caveat. Doe was no longer a shortstop but a catcher.

'I was holding my breath during the draft, not knowing if I was going to have to get another job,” Doe said, after helping the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 5-1 win over Clinton last night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 'I think that honestly helps me a ton to not ever take anything for granted … I'm just thankful for every day I get to show up and keep playing. It's a great game.”

Doe was a shortstop in high school, junior college and Baylor University, sans for about 15 games of his senior season with the Bears, he figured. It's a story akin to the one of former Kernel Tyler Grimes.

He was a shortstop at Wichita State before being converted to behind the plate. Grimes retired this spring training.

'They drafted me as a catcher, slapped the gear on me and said ‘Go for it,'” said Doe, who went 2-for-3, including a two-run double that put his team ahead for good in the seventh inning. It was surprising. (The Twins) said you're slow. If you want to keep playing, put on some gear and get behind the plate. I love catching. Getting to be in on every pitch, working with the pitchers. You learn a lot. It probably helped me hitting, too. You know what the pitcher is thinking a little bit more. Not always, of course. But you get a better feel for the game.”

Doe joined the Kernels from extended spring training April 20 as pretty much a third catcher. But he has produced offensively when he has gotten the call and is getting more and more at-bats lately.

He is 13 for his last 29, in fact, which is one more hit than he had all last season in Rookie ball. He credits the work he has done with Kernels hitting coach Tommy Watkins for the surge.

'Just completely changed my swing from college,” he said. 'Getting lucky and finding a few holes helps.”

'When he has gotten the chance, he has put together good at-bats,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer. 'He's got a short swing. Once he got over trying to hit every ball 500 feet, he's been putting good swings on it. He's hit the ball around the field, put together some nice at-bats with runners in scoring position. He's been doing pretty good.”

The Kernels (32-18) scored four runs in the seventh to win the second game of this four-game series. The teams play again Sunday afternoon at 2:05.

Doe, Nick Gordon and Edgar Corcino had two hits apiece. Corcino, an outfielder, joined the club Saturday from extended spring training. He was signed out of the independent Frontier League by the Twins in the offseason after also serving time in the Detroit Tigers organization.

Luke Bard (2-0) got the pitching victory after throwing two innings of shutout relief. In fact, he, Jose Velez and Cameron Booser combined to put up five zeroes out of the bullpen.

After the game, the Kernels announced another roster move. First baseman Tyler Kuresa is being sent to extended spring training, with catcher Alex Real joining the club from extended.

Kuresa hit .194 in 36 games for the Kernels. Real was a 24th-round draft pick last year out of the University of New Mexico.

He was suspended for the first 50 games of this season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. The Kernels just played their 50th game.

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