Noah Miller returns to Cedar Rapids ... as the opposing team’s shortstop

CEDAR RAPIDS — Brian Dinkelman was hitting grounders to infielders at the side of the cage as the first round of daily batting practice was going on Tuesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels manager’s cell phone was in his pocket, it rang, he answered it and a short conversation ensued. Dinkelman hung up and summoned infielder Jay Harry, who literally had just taken some swings.

The two walked back to the locker room area. Harry had been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for major league relief pitcher Trevor Richards, and Dinkelman was breaking the news to him.

Harry’s time in the Minnesota Twins organization was over. Just like that.

If anyone could relate to the situation, It was Noah Miller. He’s in the opposing dugout this week, as the Kernels host the Great Lakes Loons.

Miller, also an infielder, was dealt by the Twins this past offseason to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a trade that brought Minnesota big league outfielder Manuel Margot and current Kernels infielder Rayne Doncon.

“Boy, it was crazy. Surreal, definitely” Miller said before Tuesday night’s game. “Didn’t think it would happen. Thought I’d be a Twin for life. Definitely emotional saying goodbye to all those guys I’d played with for three years. But also definitely exciting. It’s good to be in the Dodgers organization. Definitely one of the best organizations in baseball. It’s been good being over here.”

Miller was the everyday shortstop for last season’s Kernels, his wizardly defense helping Cedar Rapids win the Midwest League championship. He was one of nine Minor League Baseball Gold Glove awardees for his prowess.

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The 21-year-old Wisconsin native is repeating high-Class A this season, as he attempts to improve his hitting, which has lagged behind his defense as a pro. The switch-hitting Miller was a Competitive-Balance ‘A’ pick of the Twins in 2021, the 36th-overall selection.

He hit .223 for the Kernels in 120 games last season. He came into Tuesday hitting .251 in 95 games for Great Lakes, with six home runs and 33 RBIs.

“I’ve definitely grown since last year,” Miller said. “Hitting wise, getting stronger, just improving my hitting overall. It’s just keep going with that, keep improving on that. That’s probably been my biggest adjustment, coming over to the Dodgers and working with their guys. Changing a couple of things, figuring out what works. Just keep going.”

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The last time Miller was at Veterans Memorial Stadium was last September when the Kernels won the title over, ironically, Great Lakes. These teams already have played this regular season, so Miller has been able to catch up with some of his old teammates and organization-mates.

But being back at this stadium ...

“It’s definitely different. It’s a weird feeling,” he said. “But, at the same time, we’re just playing baseball. That’s all it is. I’m not thinking too much about it, I don’t think. It’s definitely weird being in this locker room instead of that locker room. But it’s fun, going to be fun to see all those guys that I played with last year.”

Cedar Rapids went into this series with a 17-13 second-half record, which places it in second place behind Wisconsin in the Western Division. The Kernels were 54-40 overall.

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Photos: Cedar Rapids Kernels vs. Great Lakes Loons

Those numbers improved via a dramatic ninth-inning rally Tuesday night that produced a 4-3 victory. The Kernels had two hits the first 8 1/3 innings, but had five straight hits from there and scored four runs.

Jose Salas ended up with a walk-off RBI single to right-center field. The teams play again Wednesday at 12:05 p.m.

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