Kernels’ Giovinazzo keeps playing … and playing

CEDAR RAPIDS - You expect the new guys to come in and help out, and they might.

But there's one thing you've got to realize about them, too. They've been playing baseball longer this season than the old guys.

Take newbie Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder Chris Giovinazzo for instance.

“We started fall ball Oct. 1,” Giovinazzo said after the Kernels lost to Wisconsin, 3-2, last night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “So I've been going here quite a few months now. It's been a grind, but that's how baseball is. You play every day and just learn to work through it.”

Giovinazzo, 22, was promoted to the Kernels this week from the Arizona Rookie League Angels. He was a 39th-round draft pick in mid-June from UCLA, where teammates included pitchers Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, picks 1 and 2 overall.

UCLA's season began in early February and lasted until early June. A couple of weeks off, then it's right back to it for Giovinazzo.

He's playing center field in the absence of all-star Travis Witherspoon, who is on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. Giovinazzo went 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored Thursday night.

“I like it,” Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro said. “It's an excitable kid. He can run a little bit, he's got some tools. He's got some baseball savvy out there in the outfield, knows what he's doing out there. I'm excited to have him. He's helped us out.”

Giovinazzo was unwrapping an Ace bandage from his left hamstring after the game, another peril of playing so long without a break. Not that he's complaining a bit.

“It's been a long year so far, but it's awesome,” he said. “(Being here) is nothing I really planned on. I've just taken it one day at a time, and I'm thankful to have this opportunity. You never know when it can be taken from you. I'm just glad to be out here every day playing baseball for a living. It's something I really enjoy.”

The Kernels dropped to 2-5 in the Midwest League's second half, thanks primarily to the starting pitching of Wisconsin's Jimmy Nelson (3-7). He was dominant with primarily a low-90s fastball and changeup, allowing just four hits in eight shutout innings.

Cedar Rapids made it interesting in the ninth against Timber Rattlers closer Greg Holle, with a walk, a double and two-run single from Jeremy Cruz. But Holle got Ricky Alvarez to ground into a double play and Justin Bass to fly to left to end it.

“Their starter was really good tonight. He was on top of his game. Hats off to him,” Del Chiaro said. “I didn't think we gave away at-bats, thought we battled him pretty well. He kept us off balance. It was just a good performance.”