Baseball notebook: Jake Mauer enjoying his new assignment in Double-A

CEDAR RAPIDS — All Jake Mauer does is develop players and win ballgames. It doesn't depend on the level.

The former Cedar Rapids Kernels manager took his Double-A Chattanooga team to a first-half division championship in the Southern League. The Lookouts began second-half play Friday night with a win.

Mauer managed the Kernels to four Midwest League playoff berths in his four years as skipper here. He got a deserved promotion this season and hasn't skipped a beat.

Develop players and win ballgames. Sounds simple, but it isn't.

'Baseball wise, obviously, you are dealing with a little bit of an older and more experienced player here,' Mauer said Saturday afternoon, prior to his team's home game against Pensacola. 'The game is just a little bit faster, not a whole lot. Guys are a little bit more consistent. We've been blessed here because we've had a lot of guys who played in Cedar Rapids for me in our bullpen and starting rotation. Guys like John Curtiss and Stephen Gonsalves and Felix Jorge and Fernando Romero are here two years later and kind of down the road a little bit. They were kind of a huge, huge part of what we did in the first half.'

Mauer even got the opportunity to tell a player he was going to the big leagues about three weeks ago. Chattanooga pitcher Randy Rosario (another former Kernel) got a two-game trial with the Minnesota Twins before being returned to the minors.

Nineteen of the 25 active players on Chattanooga's roster right now also played for Mauer in Cedar Rapids.

'It's neat to see some of the things we worked on in Cedar Rapids and before that kind of take hold,' he said.

Mauer said the Southern League has been different because more series are of the five-game variety due to more extended travel. The weather, obviously, tends to be a lot more hot and humid than what you get in the Midwest.

Chattanooga does not have a housing program, so he has had to find his own place to live during the season, unlike when he was in Cedar Rapids. Being so far away from his home in the Twin Cities has meant he hasn't been able to see his wife and three children much at all.

But this is a positive step toward what he always has dreamed, to be in a major league dugout some year.

'I have always liked what I've been able to do,' Mauer said. 'I get to put on a baseball uniform and go to the ballpark for a living. That's ridiculous, you know? To get paid to do it. I miss the folks around Cedar Rapids, obviously. The community, the front office there, everyone was just wonderful. It was a great place to be. Then selfishly for me, being able to go home on off days and see my family. That was a great perk for me.

'But this is a different challenge, it further alongs your career. We'll see where this road takes me.'

ADAMS GOES DEEP IN 1ST PRO GAME

What a professional debut for former Iowa Hawkeye power hitter Jake Adams.

The Houston Astros' sixth-round draft pick last week and NCAA home run leader went deep Friday night in a game for the Tri-City ValleyCats.

Adams' homer was to dead center and measured at over 400 feet. That was his only hit in a 1-for-4 game.

Former Hawkeye infielder Mason McCoy made his pro debut Friday for short-season-A Aberdeen of the New York-Penn League, going 1-for-3 with a couple of RBIs. He was a sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles last week.

The other two Iowa players taken in last week's draft (pitcher Nick Gallagher/Indians and pitcher Ryan Erickson/White Sox) are in the Arizona Rookie League and have not played, yet.

.June 23, 2017

.@ValleyCats 1B Jake Adams, who led Division 1 with 29 HRs, homers to center in his first pro at-bat. That's a blast of 400+ feet: pic.twitter.com/xmbo72MNul

— Mark Singelais (@MarkSingelais)

CLINTON MANAGER LET GO

—— The parent Seattle Mariners surprised last week by relieving Clinton LumberKings Manager Pat Shine of his duties are the first half of Midwest League play concluded last Sunday. Shine was in his first season in the Mariners organization after spending the 2016 season as video coach for the Florida Marlins. David Macias, who was serving as player and staff systems coordinator for Seattle, was named manager for the second half.

ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES

With the promotions of four Cedar Rapids Kernels players Friday to high-A Fort Myers came the news that three former Kernels were released by the Minnesota Twins from the Fort Myers roster.

They were outfielder Daniel Kihle, first baseman Trey Vavra and utility player Rafael Valera. Vavra is the son of Twins bench coach Joe Vavra.

HOW THEY'RE DOING

Joel Booker (University of Iowa) — Outfielder was promoted this week to high-A Winston-Salem (White Sox). In two games, he's 2-for-8 with an RBI.

Matt Dermody (University of Iowa) — Relief pitcher is 5-0 in 24 games for Triple-A Buffalo (Blue Jays) with 3.60 ERA.

Blake Hickman (University of Iowa) — Four starts for low-A low-A Kannapolis (White Sox) with 2.92 ERA. Has allowed just 20 hits in 24 2/3 innings.

Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier) — Right-handed pitcher is on a rehab assignment to short-season-A Aberdeen (Orioles), where he is 0-2 with a 4.50 earned run average in two appearances. Has recorded three strikeouts.

Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier) — Right-handed pitcher also on a rehab assignment with low-A West Virginia (Pirates), where he has made one start that lasted two innings and resulted in no runs against and four strikeouts.

Derrick Loveless (Solon) — Outfielder hitting .258 in 34 games for Double-A New Hampshire (Blue Jays), with no home runs and 10 RBIs.

Tyler Peyton (University of Iowa) — Has pitched in seven games, one start, for South Bend (Cubs). Has 2-1 record and 3.76 ERA, with 27 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings.

A.J. Puk (Cedar Rapids Washington) — Left-hander went seven innings in his first Double-A start for Midland (Athletics), allowing just four hits and three runs, striking out seven.

Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie) — Cincinnati Reds outfielder hit his 20th home run of the season last week. Has .258 batting average in 68 games, with 11 doubles, 20 homers and 40 RBIs.

Jake Yacinich (University of Iowa) — Shortstop hitting .245 in 46 games for high-A Rancho Cucamonga (Quakes), with three homers and 11 RBIs.

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