Christian Encarnacion-Strand is 2022 Midwest League MVP

Third baseman played 74 games for Cedar Rapids Kernels before being promoted to Double-A and eventually traded to the Cincinnati Reds organization

Jeff Johnson

Nov. 9, 2022 12:55 pm, Updated: Nov. 9, 2022 4:30 pm

Kernels’ batter Christian Encarnacion-Strand (43) watches his hit fly into the outfield on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at Veterans's Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — He had two home runs and nine RBIs in the first game of the season. He had 15 RBIs in the first three-game series of the season.

Let’s just say Christian Encarnacion-Strand made an immediate impression in Cedar Rapids.

That impression actually lasted until he was promoted to Double-A in mid-July. The third baseman has been named the 2022 Midwest League Most Valuable Player, it was announced Wednesday.

Encarnacion-Strand is the first Kernels player since Byron Buxton in 2013 to be named Midwest League MVP. Mike Trout also won the award in 2010.

A fourth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of Oklahoma State, Encarnacion-Strand hit .296 in 74 games for the Kernels, with 23 doubles, 20 home runs and 68 RBIs. He hit .333 in 13 games for Double-A Wichita before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a package that sent major-league pitcher Tyler Mahle to Minnesota.

Beloit’s M.D. Johnson was named MWL Pitcher of the Year, with Dayton’s Elly De La Cruz the Prospect of the Year. Austin Chubb of Great Lakes is the Manager of the Year.

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