Articles Tagged: Cedar Rapids Kernels

The Minnesota Twins announced coaching staffs for all of their minor league baseball affiliates Wednesday. Brian Meyer will return to manage the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a second season.

Longtime Cedar Rapids Kernels clubhouse manager Ron “Roady” Plein died Saturday in his hometown of Dubuque. Plein began his career in professional baseball in 1975 with the Quad City Angels, moving to the Kernels when the California Angels moved their Midwest League affiliate to Cedar Rapids in 1993.

Who made a lasting impression? Libby Fandel, Quentin Nauman, Williamsburg softball, South Winneshiek cross country, and an all-too-brief moment in the sun for my Drake Bulldogs.

Kyle DeBarge played shortstop, left field and center field for the Cedar Rapids Kernels during the 2025 season. But his exceptional defensive play at second base has earned the Minnesota Twins prospect a Rawlings Gold Glove, one of nine in Minor League Baseball to get one.

Professional baseball in Cedar Rapids has been played since 1890.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced Thursday that Sean Brandhorst has been hired as the Midwest League club’s new general manager. Brandhorst replaces Scott Wilson, who recently left the club to take a job outside of baseball.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced Tuesday that long-time general manager Scott Wilson is leaving the baseball club. He will become executive director at NewBo City Market.

Relief pitcher Nick Trabacchi of the Cedar Rapids Kernels is a recipient of the 2025 Harmon Killebrew Award, it was announced Thursday. A player at each of the parent Minnesota Twins’ minor league affiliates is honored each season for outstanding community service.

See photos as the Whitecaps traveled to Cedar Rapids to play for the Midwest League title.

The West Michigan Whitecaps had the best overall record in minor league baseball after the regular season. The Caps won all four playoff games, including 3-1 Tuesday night over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium to win the 2025 Midwest League championship. West Michigan finished 96-39 overall, playoffs included.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels led the West Michigan Whitecaps, 3-0, after three innings of Game 1 of the Midwest League Championship Series on Sunday afternoon in Comstock Park, Mich. But the Whitecaps, who have an overall record of 95-39 (best in the minors) scored the final five runs to pull out a 5-3 win.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels beat Beloit, 7-1, Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in a deciding Game 3 of the Midwest League Western Division championship series. The game strangely was delayed a half-hour with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the first inning of a scoreless game because a transformer blew.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to go from 2-1 down to 5-2 ahead, eventually securing a 5-3 win over the Beloit Sky Carp in Game 2 of the Midwest League Western Division playoff series. Winner-take-all Game 3 is Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels failed to come up with clutch hits and fell to Beloit, 7-1, Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Midwest League Western Division championship series.

For the 11th time in 12 seasons as an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, the Cedar Rapids Kernels have qualified for the postseason. That was via a first-half Western Division championship. They play second-half winner Beloit in a best-of-3 series that begins Tuesday night in Wisconsin and continues Thursday night and possibly Friday night in Cedar Rapids.