Jeff Johnson

Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Jon Olsen was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2018, but didn’t begin his pro baseball career until last season because of injuries and the COVID pandemic. After a second Tommy John surgery in the offseason, he’s back again and grateful.

Cedar Rapids Kernels shortstop Brooks Lee was the first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins recently, the eighth overall selection. Despite going 2 1/2 months between games after his college season ended, Lee has done nothing but hit since he turned pro.

Linn-Mar’s football team will play its first home football game of the 2022 season at Cedar Rapids Prairie because of issues with the installation of field turf at the school’s stadium. The game against Pleasant Valley is Sept. 9.

Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Matt Mullenbach has had a ton of pleasant memories emerge this 2022 season. The Waukee graduate is pitching near home, pitching very well and got to pitch last week at the Field of Dreams.

Former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep Quinn Schulte is atop the Iowa football at depth chart. Is he the next walk-on-turned starter for the Hawkeyes at that position?

Former Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker and NFL player Ed Miles is in his first season as head football coach at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. His mantras of full effort, physical and mental toughness has players excited to rebuild program.

The Quad Cities River Bandits beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7-2, Tuesday night in the first minor-league baseball game played at the Field of Dreams. It was an amazing experience for everyone.

Marion’s new home football stadium won’t be ready for the 2022 season, but the Wolves still are excited about turning things around, playing games back at historic Thomas Park.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Quad Cities River Bandits play Tuesday night, the first minor league game ever at the Field of Dreams near Dyersville. Players, even those who have never seen the movie, are excited about this opportunity.

Verne Daugherty has been an usher for Cedar Rapids Kernels home games since 1990. The 85-year-old Cedar Rapids man also helps at University of Iowa athletics events.

Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Bradley Hanner had a very difficult time throwing strikes last season in low-Class A ball. But he has moved up to high-A in 2022 and put together a nice season.

Tuesday’s first-ever minor-league baseball game at the Field of Dreams movie site near Dyersville will be close to sold out, if not sold out. The Cedar Rapids Kernels take on the Quad Cities River Bandits in a Midwest League affair.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have employed a six-man starting pitching rotation this Midwest League baseball season. Five of those six guys are different from the start of the season.

Pitchers Cade Povich and Sawyer Gipson-Long and infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand played for the 2022 Cedar Rapids Kernels, with Povich still on the active roster. All three were a part of trades that sent them Tuesday to other MLB organizations.

Here’s a look at local, Gazette-area and former University of Iowa players and how they are doing in affiliated minor league and major league baseball.