Back on the mound, Alejandro Hidalgo of Cedar Rapids Kernels shows a lot of promise

CEDAR RAPIDS — Forget the earned run average right now. Don’t look at the win-loss record because that’s always hugely overrated.

Let’s focus on these three numbers with Alejandro Hidalgo of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. They are 24, 33 and 5.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher has thrown 24 innings about a month into the Midwest League season. He has struck out 33 opposing batters.

Hidalgo has back-to-back recent starts where he has pitched five innings each. That may not sound significant, but it is truly.

The 21-year-old right hander from Maracay, Venezuela, missed all last season with a shoulder injury. That’s significant lost development time.

“It was really, really hard for me,” said Hidalgo, through interpreter and Kernels co-pitching coach A.J. Angulo “But at the same time, I never gave up. I continued to work. I put in my work every day at the facility down at Fort Myers because I knew that eventually I was going to be healthy and come back stronger than what I was before.”

Hidalgo’s shoulder woes did not require surgery, thank goodness. Just a lot of rest, rehab and strengthening.

And a change in his delivery.

“He’s finally healthy, which is good to see,” Angulo said. “I think we’re getting to see the Hidalgo we were expecting to see when he came from the Angels. He made some tweaks to his mechanics to clear his arm path a little bit.

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“We’re seeing he has big league stuff. That fastball misses bats, his changeup is 79 percent swing and miss against lefties this year, so it’s impressive to see that. We added a slider that has been 84 to 87, touching 89 sometimes. We’re working currently on a curveball that he has thrown (this season).”

As Angulo mentioned, Hidalgo was acquired by the Minnesota Twins from the Los Angeles Angels organization for major league infielder Gio Urshela in November of 2022. He was considered a top-30 prospect with the Angels at the time and assumed that status with the Twins.

He pitched for the Kernels in 2023, going 0-5 with a 5.28 ERA in 21 appearances, eight starts, as a teenager in high-Class A. Then 2024 happened.

“It was kind of surprising for me. I never expected to get traded,’ Hidalgo said through Angulo. ”But it was a good thing for me. I came to a really good organization, and I’m thankful to God that he put me in this situation.

“I just want to stay healthy, go out there and compete. Take advantage of every opportunity that I have. Give my 100 percent there. Who knows what it’s going to take.”

Hidalgo has made six starts so far this season for the Kernels, who are finishing up a six-game series this weekend at Beloit. His ERA is 6.38, but the strikeout rate is outstanding and he has allowed just 20 hits in his 24 innings.

Control has been a bugaboo for him at times during his pro career, but you can’t overlook his pure stuff: a good fastball that has improved to 95 miles per hour this season, a slider, is plus changeup and a curve that he has added to his repertoire.

When he puts it all together, it’s fun to watch. It all came together April 25 when he dominated Wisconsin to the tune of one hit and no runs allowed in five innings, with seven strikeouts.

The length of the start was a milestone for him after his season away. He then went five innings in his next start as well.

“Basically I’m tired. That was the first time I’ve thrown five innings in a long time. But on the mound, I’ve felt really, really good,” Hidalgo said after his April 25 start. “I felt really good with that. I just went out there to compete, what I know how to do. Just trust myself that things are going to be good for me.”

“When he is throwing strikes, with his arm, you see they don’t touch the ball that much,” Angulo said. “The trouble that he gets into is with the walks. That’s something we’re working on. It had been almost two years since he’d thrown in a game, so he’s just trying to find his rhythm.”

The Kernels went into Saturday’s game against Beloit with a 19-11 record, two games behind Quad Cities for first place in the Midwest League’s Western Division. They return home this coming week for a six-game series against Peoria, the opener being Tuesday night at 6:35.

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