Rotating roster

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's been a week that has even the most knowledgeable Cedar Rapids Kernels fans scrambling for their programs.

Eight roster moves in two days have reshaped the Kernels, mired in seventh place in the Midwest League's Western Division after a 14-9 thumping Wednesday night by the Burlington Bees before 1,531 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“We're making a change, a change for better,” Kernels Manager Jamie Burke said. “I think our team is better with the new additions and we're going to run with it and see what happens.”

New Cedar Rapids shortstop Eric Stamets (0-for-5 with a throwing error) and catcher Zach Wright (1-for-4) were activated Tuesday and in last night's starting lineup. They replaced infielder Wendell Soto and catcher Carlos Lugo, who were reassigned to Rookie-level Orem.

The parent Los Angeles Angels announced before the game that outfielder Ryan Jones (. 295 in 58 games) was promoted to high-Class A Inland Empire, and pitcher Eswarlin Jimenez was headed to the disabled list with blisters on his pitching hand. The Kernels' roster was bumped up to 25 with the additions of the Angels' top two picks in last week's draft, relief pitcher R.J. Alvarez (third round) and infielder Alex Yarbrough (fourth round).

Alvarez, 21, is clearly someone to keep an eye on. Entering the game to begin the sixth inning, he struck out the side on 15 pitches, 13 of them fastballs that clocked as high as 98 miles per hour.

“I was a little nervous in the beginning,” Alvarez said of his professional debut. “Once I threw the first pitch I was pretty good to go after that.”

Starter Jairo Diaz (2-7) was tagged for seven hits and seven earned runs in three innings, including long back-to-back home runs by Burlington's Nick Rickles and Ryan Pineda in the third inning.

Not the type of performance you're looking for with Los Angeles Angels first-year assistant general manager Scott Servais in the stands and an already active transaction list.

The Kernels will try to avoid a sweep Thursday night at 6:30.