C.R. Kernels catcher A.J. Murray finds hitting homers when needed is difficult

CEDAR RAPIDS — It's difficult to go deep when you're trying to. Just ask A.J. Murray.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels catcher was one of six participants in Tuesday night's Midwest League Home Run Derby at Veterans Memorial Stadium. One was the number of longballs he hit in a seven-out first round and five-out homer-off.

Bowling Green's Brett Sullivan outlasted everyone, defeating Wisconsin's David Denson in the interleague finals, 3-2. Sullivan actually tied with Lansing's Juan Kelly in the first round and the homer-off but moved to the finals instead of him for some reason.

Hey, time pregame was running short, so someone had to be picked.

'Last time I was in one was when I was in Little League. It was at Cooperstown,' said Murray, a New Jersey native. 'It's hard. You definitely have to have the right mindset. I would say I was a little nervous. It was nice to get one out. Not too much after that. It's a lot harder when you're trying to hit them out.'

Murray was a late addition to the MWL All-Star Game and the Derby, an injury replacement. He led the Kernels with six home runs in the first half.

Sullivan is tied for the league lead with 10. He, Kelly and Denson all fared well despite being left-handed hitters.

• Hlas: MWL All-Star David Denson gay, accepted

It's 325 down the right-field line at The Popper and juts out quickly to 390 in right-center. The inviting left-field porch, meanwhile, is only 315 feet from home plate.

'Righties are supposed to have an advantage here,' Murray said. 'I was impressed with Sullivan. Juan Kelly, too.'

Murray was told kiddingly he was just saving his home runs for the actual game.

'Nope. Saving them for the second half,' he replied.

The Kernels open the second half of the season Thursday night at home against Beloit.

All-star ramblings

• Wisconsin and Peoria led the way with seven all-stars apiece Tuesday. Wisconsin had three starters in third baseman Jake Gatewood, shortstop Isan Diaz and catcher Max McDowell. Peoria had none.

• The only top-100 prospect picked for this game didn't even play. Quad Cities outfielder Kyle Tucker is on the disabled list. He is ranked 61st overall by Baseball America, 66th by MLB Pipeline and 93rd by Baseball Prospectus.

• Every team in the league was represented, though two of the three teams farthest from Cedar Rapids had only one player apiece. That was Dayton pitcher Tanner Rainey and Great Lakes pitcher Dennis Santana. Dayton is 510 miles from Cedar Rapids, Great Lakes (located in Midland, Mich.) is 550 away. Bowling Green (a mere 573 miles from C.R.) had six players in the game.

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