Relief pitcher Nick Trabacchi of the Cedar Rapids Kernels is 26 years old. He threw collegiately at Maryland-Baltimore County and Division II Shepherd, not exactly big-time programs. He then spent four years in independent leagues, finally getting his shot in affiliated ball in late May when the Minnesota Twins signed him.
Poncho Ruiz began this baseball season for low-Class A Fort Myers, promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels in late May. His steadiness, especially defensively, has been a boon for the Kernels. Ruiz, 23, is from Tijuana, Mexico, traveling across the border each day to attend high school in Chula Vista, California.
Marion High School grad Owen Puk had a couple of inconsistent college baseball seasons at Florida International University in Miami, as well as a missed season because of Tommy John surgery. But he put things together this past season, which led to the pitcher being taken Monday in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals. He will sign a contract and turn pro.
Quad Cities River Bandits infielder Sam Kulasingam went 2-for-4 Sunday in his team’s 5-3 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He’s an Air Force Academy graduate who is obligated for four years of military service after his pro baseball career ends, even if he makes it to the major leagues.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Quad Cities River Bandits played three times earlier this week in Davenport and are playing three times this weekend in Cedar Rapids. It’s the first time they have opposed each other this Midwest League season, despite the clubs being in the same division and only 80 miles apart geographically.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the Midwest League Western Division first-half championship but went into Friday night’s July 4th home game against Quad Cities just 4-8 in the MWL’s second half. They haven’t played especially sound baseball, though Manager Brian Meyer pointed out every team has those spells in a long 132-game season.
A big birthday bash being planned for one of Eastern Iowa’s most iconic mascots will be both corny and conical.
Relief pitcher Hunter Hoopes has had a good season, getting promoted from low-Class A Fort Myers to the high-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in early June. He was signed by the parent Minnesota Twins in July 2024 after a video was posted to YouTube of him throwing a fastball 100 miles per hour as an instructor at Tread Athletics, a pitching training and development company in North Carolina.
Infielder-outfielder Brandon Winokur of the Cedar Rapids Kernels is just 20 years old, young for the high-Class A Midwest League. But you can see his talent, and he’s having his best month of the season here in June.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels lost Wednesday afternoon to South Bend, 4-1, at Veterans Memorial Stadium. They didn’t have many opportunities to steal bases, which has been a big weapon this season for them. They already have more swiped bags in 70 games than last season’s Kernels had in 132. And they are swiping them at an 88-percent clip.
Here is your fourth look at how Eastern Iowans and former University of Iowa baseball players are doing in the early going of the 2025 Major League Baseball and minor league seasons.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels clinched the first-half championship of the Midwest League Western Division with a Thursday double-header sweep at Beloit. They began the second half of the 132-game regular season Friday night secure in knowing they will be part of the MWL playoffs for the 11th time in 12 years as a Minnesota Twins affiliate.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won a Thursday night double-header at Beloit, 2-0 and 5-4, to secure the Midwest League Western Division first-half championship and corresponding playoff berth at the end of the season. This is the 11th time in 12 seasons as a Minnesota Twins affiliate that the Kernels are postseason qualifiers.
© 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved.
Daily Newsletters