Kernels’ Theofanopoulos tough to spell, has been tough to hit

CEDAR RAPIDS – He might have the longest last name in the minor leagues. It's sort of difficult to pronounce and very tough to spell.

'They can't get it right on the scoreboard, apparently,” Michael Theofanopoulos said. 'I don't think they've got enough room. They put a comma up there and everything.”

That is, indeed, the case. There isn't enough space on the Veterans Memorial Stadium video board to get all 14 letters of the Cedar Rapids Kernels reliever's name when he comes into games.

He threw two shutout innings in the Kernels' 3-1 loss Thursday night to Peoria to extend his early season streak of zeroes to 6 1/3.

'I think things have gone well,” he said. 'My goals coming in were to be a more consistent pitcher. I wanted to throw more strikes … The curveball is a big thing for me, and that's been working really well. That's probably my go-to pitch. I've been working on a changeup and been trying to mix that in, too. But, overall, it's about executing and trusting my pitches, I think.”

Theofanopoulos was a 30th-round draft pick of the parent Minnesota Twins last summer out of the University of California. He was a two-way guy there, also playing some outfield.

He got drafted despite rather limited viewing from scouts. He broke a thumb his junior season, then took a month off in the middle of his senior season to concentrate on academics.

This wasn't a case of trying to stay eligible or anything. It was about his diploma.

'I was taking a lot of classes, wanted to graduate,” he said. 'So I took about a month off from the season, the middle part, and was able to get my degree. That's a big bonus for me … Especially going to Cal, it's a big academic school. My coaches were very understanding with the whole thing and that situation.”

Theofanopoulos got his degree in American Studies, with an emphasis on institutions and society. As he mentioned, you don't get just an ordinary education at Berkeley.

'I'd generally like to get into a business type of environment, if I can,” he said. 'Whenever the game stops for me, I might be open to pursuing a Master's. I'm pretty interested in psychology and even law. It's a pretty open door for me right now. But I hope I don't have to use that ever.”

As a lefty, he'll get chances to prove himself. Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said Theofanopoulos (whose fastball is usually between 89 and 92 miles per hour) is a candidate to start some games this season because of his three-pitch mix.

'You're going to see him for more than three outs,” Mauer said. 'I wouldn't be (against) him closing games, too, the way he has gone out there and mixed well and thrown strikes. The more and more he's gone out, it looks like the more and more confidence he has gathered.”

The Kernels (6-2) lost for the second straight game, gathering just seven hits and striking out 12 times. They still had a 1-0 lead in the middle innings, with Peoria (6-2) scoring three times in the sixth against starting pitcher John Curtiss (1-1).

Peoria starter Austin Gomber threw seven solid innings, giving up just six hits and a run, striking out eight. The teams play again Friday night at 6:35.

'Their lefty made some pitches, and we chased and maybe helped him out a little bit,” Mauer said. 'We've got to be better offensively than that.”

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