'Signs' mean something different to Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder Daniel Kihle

CEDAR RAPIDS — As far as backgrounds go, Daniel Kihle rates toward the top in the Cedar Rapids Kernels clubhouse when it comes to most interesting.

The 22-year-old outfielder from Wichita State will be involved in an offseason television show for the Sportsman Channel that also includes San Francisco Giants third baseman Conor Gillaspie, New York Mets minor leaguer Joe Shaw and military veteran Aaron Childress.

The four will go on hunting excursions around Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and other places.

Then there is Kihle's proficiency at sign language. He was asked before Friday night's game against Quad Cities to sign 'home run,' which he did in an instant.

He went out and hit two of them in the game, his first two as a Kernel.

'My best friend when I was really young, like in kindergarten, he got into a wreck,' Kihle said. 'He was on a go-cart and ran into a pickup truck, like the wheel of it. Through a bunch of surgeries, spinal meningitis, a long string of things ended up making him completely deaf. So in first grade was when I started learning sign language. He has been a classmate since first grade, all the way up until I got drafted last year. We went to college together and were roommates.'

That friend is Chase Pote, who qualified for the NCAA Division I outdoor track and field meet in the javelin. The national meet is next week in Jacksonville, Fla.

'I wish him luck,' Kihle said. 'He's a great athlete.'

The Kernels have players regularly visit schools and other places in the community and would like to get Kihle out to speak with deaf students. He'd be happy to do that.

'When I played in the (summer) Cape Cod League, I saw a person who was deaf,' he said. 'So I went out and talked to her. You don't see it a whole lot around the field. But I'd try and at least say hi to them every game. I think it brightened her day a little bit ... I can get pretty much everything I need to say across.'

Kihle was an 18th-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins last year. He came to Cedar Rapids in late April from extended spring training, but in the second inning of his first game, he sprained the MCL in his right knee in a collision with a teammate while chasing a short flyball.

That landed him on the disabled list. Since returning, he has been a fixture in the Kernels lineup, hitting .317 in 41 at-bats.

Kihle has multiple hits in three of his last four games.

'I was happy to be here, but, obviously, I wanted to be on the field,' he said of his injury. 'It was kind of a bummer, but (trainer) Steve (Taylor) took care of me and got me good. I'm good to go.'

How They're Doing

Colin Rea (Cascade): Pitcher is 3-2 with a 4.37 earned run average in nine games, eight starts for the San Diego Padres. Allowed 44 hits in 45 1/3 innings.

Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie): Outfielder is hitting .225 in 11 games for Triple-A Louisville (Reds). Has a home run and six RBIs.

Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington): Outfielder has raised average to .231 in 30 games, with two home runs and seven RBIs.

Matt Dermody (University of Iowa): Relief pitcher has 1-1 record, two saves and 2.25 earned run average in 15 games for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays). Has 19 strikeouts in 16 innings.

Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Pitcher has lowered earned run average to 3.94 in nine appearances for Double-A Bowie (Orioles). Allowed only 14 hits in 16 innings.

Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings in his last start for low-A West Virginia (Pirates). Numbers remain great: 3-2 record and 1.10 earned run average, allowing just 22 hits and three walks in 41 innings, striking out 48.

Jake Yacinich (University of Iowa): After spending first month and a half on the disabled list, infielder joined Burlington (Angels) of Midwest League last week and went 8 for 24 at the plate with a home run and five RBIs.

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