Kernels get taste of big leagues Friday

CEDAR RAPIDS - Unlike the rest of their Cedar Rapids Kernels teammates, tonight's game won't be a big deal for Mike Trout and Randal Grichuk.

Playing in a major league stadium is so blase. OK, maybe not.

As first-round draft picks, Trout and Grichuk did private workouts for some teams before the draft last June. For instance, Trout, who is from New Jersey, took batting practice at Yankee Stadium in New York and Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia.

“Yeah, that was good stuff,” he said.

As it should be Friday night when the Kernels play the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Miller Park in Milwaukee. First pitch is 7:05, with tickets for what is being called the “Border Battle” a minor league-esque $10.

It's the first time Cedar Rapids has played a game in a major league ballpark.

“It's going to be awesome,” said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. “Really neat.”

“Going to be a great experience,” Trout agreed. “I've taken BP in a couple of big league parks, had a good time, but I've never actually played a full game. So this will be a great experience. The ball should be flying.”

Midwest League games in major league stadiums aren't a new thing. Wisconsin, a Brewers affiliate located two hours north in Appleton, played the Peoria Chiefs in Miller Park last season, drawing 18,000 fans.

Wisconsin and Beloit, then a Brewers affiliate, played Miller Park games in 2003 and 2004. The 2003 game drew 15,000 fans, with Brewers all-star Prince Fielder the big attraction.

Kane County and Peoria have played in Chicago's Wrigley Field. The Chiefs are a Cubs affiliate.

“Man, it's going to be exciting. My first real taste of a big league ballpark,” Grichuk said. “I've taken BP and fielded some balls in (Houston's Minute Maid Park), but I've never really gotten to play a game. Hopefully I'll get to play in one (all the time) some day, you know?”

Kernels General Manager Jack Roeder, who is expected to throw out tonight's first pitch, said the Kernels being picked for this year's Miller Park game was simply a matter of luck. Friday was a date that fit into Miller Park's schedule, so Wisconsin booked it.

The Timber Rattlers' opponent just happened to be Cedar Rapids.

The Kernels played a noon game Thursday in Peoria, then drove to Appleton and checked into a hotel. They will drive to Milwaukee this afternoon, take batting practice and infield practice, play the game and return to Appleton.

The Kernels and Timber Rattlers have games there Saturday and Sunday.

“I think this is a very big deal, certainly for the players,” Roeder said. “I think there's lots of (fan) interest, too. I can tell you one thing, the Brewers have been very accommodating to us with everything.”

Roeder said the Kernels sold out reservations for a bus that will take fans to Miller Park this afternoon. He said he anticipated around 200 people from Cedar Rapids to attend the game.