Trout still here, but Lucho gone for Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Kernels won their 12th game in 13 tries Sunday, rallying past Wisconsin, 5-4, at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

But they lost a prominent position player to promotion. No, not that player.

Third baseman Luis Jimenez was sent to high-Class A Rancho Cucamonga. "Lucho" leads the Midwest League in runs batted in with 38.

Well, make that led the Midwest League in RBIs. Michael Wing was activated from the disabled list to replace Jimenez on the active roster.

"How many guys lose the leading RBI guy in the league?" Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello said, when asked how much his team would miss Jimenez, who hit .292 in 43 games. "He was on pace for a 115-RBI season. He's not coming back, either. He's going to do well there (at Rancho)."

The Kernels (32-18) have had a lot of player movement the past couple of weeks, including losing first baseman/designated hitter Eric Oliver and starting pitchers Patrick Corbin and Orangel Arenas. But ballyhooed 18-year-old outfielder Mike Trout remains.

Trout had the winning hit Sunday, a sharp two-run single up the middle against Wisconsin reliever Del Howell (0-2) that culminated a three-run seventh inning. Trout leads the MWL in batting average (.359), hits (69), stolen bases (25) and on-base percentage.

Parent Angels Director of Player Development Abe Flores has been in town this weekend and said Trout would remain with the Kernels the rest of the first half. Will he be here longer than the first half?

"Yes," Flores said.  "Could that change? Of course. But we are in no rush to move him. If he's here all year, he's here all year."

That was Kernels General Manager Jack Roeder you heard yelling "Woo hoo!" in the background.

"A lot," Flores said, when asked how many people have been asking him about Trout. "But I think they're missing the boat if they don't ask about Lucho, too.  I think in time people will be missing the boat about (second baseman Jean) Segura. I think people are missing the boat if they're not asking about some of our pitchers.

"But a lot of people have asked about Trout. He's a special guy, a very talented guy."

The teams conclude their four-game series Monday afternoon at 2.