Kernels’ Rodriguez trying to become a pitcher

CEDAR RAPIDS – Believe it or not, he's not a catcher. Never has been.

Dereck Rodriguez isn't an outfielder anymore, either. He's trying to be a pitcher, of all things.

The son of future hall of famer Ivan 'Pudge” Rodriguez made his second start for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in Game 1 of a marathon double-header Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. It wasn't great, but better than his first Kernels appearance.

The 23-year-old is raw but has a good right arm. It's just a matter of making that tough transition.

'It's been great,” Rodriguez said. 'I've always liked pitching, always liked throwing the ball, showing my arm. I can't say it's been rough, but it has been something different. It hasn't been (easy) going from outfield to pitcher, but it's fine.”

Rodriguez was a sixth-round draft pick in 2011 of the Minnesota Twins out of a Florida high school but hit just .216 in three seasons of Rookie ball. The Twins discussed a possible mound conversion with him after the 2013 season and he began his baseball transformation last season at Rookie-level Elizabethton.

He did well enough (five saves and a 1.05 earned run average) that Minnesota wants to see if he can make another transformation – bullpen to starter.

'Pitching was going to be kind of a last resort type of thing,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said. 'He's got good pitches, has got a good arm, good body. He's got a chance.”

'The toughest adjustment has been trying to command my pitches,” Rodriguez said. 'I've always been pretty good with the fastball, but I'm learning different pitches, learning where to throw them and learning when to throw them.”

Rodriguez said he simply never had the desire to be a catcher, which is why he never played the position like his dad. He said you've got to love the grind and squatting behind home plate for nine innings, and he didn't.

He always has been his own player, someone trying to carve out his own baseball identity. Though it's never a bad thing to have a 21-year major leaguer only a phone call away.

'He tells me that as long as I a uniform on, I'll be fine,” Dereck said. 'Just keep my head up and keep going forward.”

FIRST-HALF FINALE

The Midwest League's first half is down to its final week, and the playoff picture is pretty clear. At least in the Western Division.

Quad Cities went into Saturday's action having clinched one of two available postseason spots. The River Bandits were 40-20, 4.5 games ahead of second-place Cedar Rapids.

Barring a major collapse, the Kernels will get the first-half wildcard spot in the West, as they were five games up on Burlington.

In the Eastern Division, all kinds of teams are in playoff play. Lansing was a game ahead of Bowling Green for first place, 1.5 up on third-place Great Lakes. Lake County (3.5 out) also has legitimate chances, with Dayton (5 out) and West Michigan (6) a little more iffy.

With one more series of interleague play, the Eastern Division has a 44-27 lead on the Western Division. It doesn't pick back up until August.

METRO/AREA/U OF IOWA PLAYERS IN MINORS UPDATE

- Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington): Outfielder has his batting average up to .284 in 54 games with high-Class A Fort Myers (Twins). In 201 at-bats, has 12 doubles, two home runs and 21 RBIs.

- Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): In 17 games out of the bullpen for advanced-A Frederick (Orioles), has 3-4 record, three saves and 3.65 earned run average. Has allowed just 36 hits in 37 innings, with 27 strikeouts.

- Derrick Loveless (Solon): In 53 games for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays), has a .229 average, three doubles, two triples, four home runs and 16 RBIs.

- Colin Rea (Cascade): Just activated from the disabled list for Double-A San Antonio (Padres). Hopes to continue breakout season that has seen him post a 1.38 ERA in eight starts and an astounding WHIP of 0.88.

- Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie): Returned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after his one-game stint in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, went 2-for-5 with a home run Friday night against Nashville. Hitting .220 in 54 games, with eight doubles, three triples, eight homers and 17 RBIs.

- Jake Yacinich (University of Iowa): Shortstop for the Burlington Bees of Midwest League (Angels) is hitting .293 in 39 games. Has 17 RBIs.

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