Super utility guy Caleb Hamilton comes up with super homer that rallies Kernels past Burlington

CEDAR RAPIDS — You can stay in the game of baseball a long time if you know how to play multiple positions. That's what Caleb Hamilton is hoping, because that's what he can do.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels super utility guy hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in a four-run sixth inning that lifted the Kernels past Burlington, 5-3, before 3,124 fans Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Hamilton played first base in this one, giving Lewin Diaz a night off. But he also has had games at second base, third base, catcher and the outfield.

Oh, he also has a scoreless pitching inning on his ledger, an emergency reliever in a blowout loss earlier this Midwest League season at Peoria. The kid has done everything but play shortstop, and that is on Manager Tommy Watkins' agenda at some point.

'It's kind of fun not knowing where you are going to play that day,' Hamilton said. 'There's a little bit of excitement. You don't get caught up in doing the same thing every single day. You kind of get to switch it up. It's fun seeing different sides of the field and trying to master new positions. I'm not excellent at first base, it's a challenge for me, but I like it.'

Hamilton was a 23rd-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins last year out of Oregon State, where he played all over. The Twins taught him how to be a catcher during last fall's instructional league so he could bring yet another position to the table.

'He can play anywhere, and I don't think he'd miss a beat,' Watkins said. 'I was that type of player, where I played everywhere. I think it helped me last as long as I did. I was able to play different positions, able to play them halfway decent. It's good to have a guy like that around.'

Watkins played 12 years of professional baseball and got a cup of coffee in the big leagues. Hamilton definitely would take that.

'If I can get on the field anyway, that's good,' he said. 'Whether a guy needs a day off, or if I can be that guy starting out there at different positions, it doesn't matter to me. I just want to be in the lineup.'

The Kernels (36-26) trailed, 2-1, but battered Burlington relief pitcher Ty Barkell (1-1) for seven hits in the telltale sixth. Brandon Lopez reached on an infield single off Barkell, then Hamilton obliterated a slider over the porch in left and onto 8th Ave. SW.

Jaylin Davis followed with a solo home run over the 403-foot sign in right-center to make it a 4-2 Kernels lead. Another run scored on an Aaron Whitefield single.

That gave starting pitcher Eduardo Del Rosario (6-3) the win. He allowed five hits and a pair of runs in six innings, followed by Ryan Mason, Alex Robinson and Hector Lujan out of the bullpen.

Lujan threw the ninth for his fourth save. Cedar Rapids remained two games up on Kane County for first place in the MWL's Western Division with eight first-half games remaining.

That includes another one between these clubs Sunday afternoon here at 2:05.

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