Cedar Rapids Kernels

Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Founded in 1890 ; Cedar Rapids, Iowa ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	High-A (2021–present)
Previous classes	Class A (1934–1937, 1962–2020); Class B (1896–1899, 1902–1909, 1920–1921, 1938–1942, 1950–1961); Class C (1949); Class D (1901, 1913–1917, 1922–1932);
League	Midwest League (1962–present)
Division	West Division
Previous leagues	Central Association (1949); Western League (1934–1937); Mississippi Valley League (1922–1932); Central Association (1913–1917); Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1909, 1920–1921, 1938–1942, 1950–1961); Western Association (1896–1899); Eastern Iowa League (1895); Illinois–Iowa League (1890–1891);
Major league affiliations
Team	Minnesota Twins (2013–present)
Previous teams	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1993–2012); Cincinnati Reds (1980–1992); San Francisco Giants (1975–1979); Houston Astros (1973–1974); St. Louis Cardinals (1965–1972); Cincinnati Reds (1963–1964); Milwaukee Braves (1958–1962); Brooklyn Dodgers (1955–1957); Chicago Cubs (1953–1954); Cleveland Indians (1950–1952); Cleveland Indians (1939–1942); St. Louis Cardinals (1936–1938); Cincinnati Reds (1932);
Minor league titles
League titles (14)	1897; 1906; 1922; 1925; 1930; 1937; 1940; 1941; 1942; 1958; 1988; 1992; 1994; 2023;
Division titles (1)	2023;
First-half titles (3)	2022; 2023; 2025;
Team data
Name	Cedar Rapids Kernels (1993–present)
Previous names	Cedar Rapids Reds (1980–1992); Cedar Rapids Giants (1975–1979); Cedar Rapids Astros (1973–1974); Cedar Rapids Cardinals (1965–1972); Cedar Rapids Red Raiders (1963–1964); Cedar Rapids Braves (1958–1962); Cedar Rapids Raiders (1953–1957); Cedar Rapids Indians (1950–1952); Cedar Rapids Rockets (1949); Cedar Rapids Raiders (1934–1942); Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1904–1932); Cedar Rapids Rabbits (1896–1903); Cedar Rapids Canaries (1890–1891);
Colors	Yellow, red, navy blue, green, white;
Ballpark	Veterans Memorial Stadium (2002–present)
Previous parks	Veterans Memorial Stadium (I) (1949–2001); Belden Hill Park (1913–1942)
Owner(s)/; Operator(s)	Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc.
General manager	Scott Wilson
Manager	Brian Meyer
Website	milb.com/cedar-rapids

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels are owned by Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc. (also known as Cedar Rapids Baseball Club, Inc.).^[3]^[4]^[5]

Cedar Rapids baseball history

Cedar Rapids first began play in 1890 and have played 110 seasons through 2015. The franchise has been a member of various leagues preceding the Midwest League. They have been a member of the Central Association (1949), Western League (1934–1937), Mississippi Valley League (1922–1932), Central Association (1913–1917), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1909, 1920–1921, 1938–1942, 1950–1961), Western Association (1896–1899), Eastern Iowa League (1895) and the Illinois–Iowa League (1890–1891).^[6] The team also had numerous nicknames prior to joining the Midwest League: Cedar Rapids Braves (1958–1962), Cedar Rapids Raiders (1953–1957), Cedar Rapids Indians (1950–1952), Cedar Rapids Rockets (1949), Cedar Rapids Raiders (1934–1942), Cedar Rapids Red Raiders (1963–1964), Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1904–1932), Cedar Rapids Rabbits (1896–1903) and Cedar Rapids Canaries (1890–1891).^[6]

When Cedar Rapids was awarded a Midwest League franchise in 1962, the franchise switched back to the Red Raiders (1962–1964) nickname. Subsequently, the team used the name of the major league franchise it affiliated with: the Cardinals (1965–1972), the Astros (1973–1974), the Giants (1975–1979), and the Reds (1980–1992). The team adopted the current "Kernels" nickname before the 1993 season. On the field, the franchise won Midwest League championships in 1988, 1992, 1994, and 2023.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Kernels were organized into the High-A Central.^[7] In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.^[8]

Ballpark

The team's first home ballpark was Belden Hill Park,^[2] followed by the original Veterans Memorial Stadium,^[9] which opened in 1949. In August 2000 voters approved a referendum to build a new ballpark adjacent to the old one, which was demolished after the 2001 season. The new Veterans Memorial Stadium was completed in time for the opening of the 2002 season, and the Kernels set a franchise attendance record of 196,066 in the new park's inaugural year.

Roster

Cedar Rapids Kernels roster
v
t
e
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 40 Spencer Bengard 25 Adrian Bohorquez 50 Julio Bonilla 31 Chase Chaney 47 Matt Gabbert 45 Ruddy Gomez 24 Xander Hamilton 19 Dasan Hill 38 Garrett Horn 46 Jacob Kisting 37 Ty Langenberg 39 Matt Mikulski 19 Jose Olivares 44 Brennen Oxford 33 Paulshawn Pasqualotto 17 Samuel Perez 15 Ivran Romero 51 Eston Stull 11 Nick Trabacchi		Catchers 35 Luis Hernandez 9 Poncho Ruiz 13 Eduardo Tait 43 Jefferson Valladares Infielders 11 Billy Amick 8 Danny De Andrade 27 Kyle DeBarge 22 Rayne Doncon 32 Marek Houston 41 Jay Thomason Outfielders 24 Justin Connell 12 Jaime Ferrer 1 Caden Kendle 2 Misael Urbina 20 Brandon Winokur		Manager 16 Brian Meyer Coaches 26 Argenis Angulo (pitching) 49 C.J Baker (hitting) 4 Julian Gonzalez (hitting) 18 Hunter Townsend (pitching) 60-day injured list -- Miguelangel Boadas 35 Khadim Diaw 30 Ross Dunn (full season) 23 Tanner Hall 18 Andy Lugo 30 Cole Peschl -- Nolan Santos 32 Charlee Soto 7-day injured list * On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated August 28, 2025 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • Midwest League → Minnesota Twins minor league players

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Lou Boudreau (1938) Inducted, (1970)
Trevor Hoffman (1991) Inducted, (2018)
John McGraw (1891) Inducted, (1937)
Ted Simmons (1967) Inducted, (2020)

Notable alumni

Casey Kotchman bats against the Clinton LumberKings, September 1, 2002

Barney Pelty (1903)
Bill Wambsganss (1913)
Bill Zuber (1932)
Allie Reynolds (1940–41) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1952 AL ERA Leader
Rocky Colavito (1952) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1959 AL Home Run Leader; 1965 AL RBI Leader
John Roseboro (1955) 4 x MLB All-Star
Denis Menke (1958–59) 2 x MLB All-Star
Tony Cloninger (1959)
Tommie Aaron (1960)
Ron Hunt (1960–61) 2 x MLB All-Star
Nate Colbert (1965) 3 x MLB All-Star
Pedro Borbon (1966)
Jerry Reuss (1967) 2 x MLB All-Star
Ken Reitz (1969) GG; MLB All-Star
Bob Forsch (1970)
Jerry Mumphrey (1972) MLB All-Star
Larry Herndon (1972)
Joe Sambito (1974) MLB All-Star
Bob Brenly (1977) MLB All-Star; MGR: 2001 World Series Champions – Arizona Diamondbacks
Chili Davis (1978) 3 x MLB All-Star
Rob Deer (1979)
Eric Davis (1982) 2 x MLB All-Star
Paul O'Neill (1982) 5 x MLB All-Star
Chris Sabo (1983) 3 x MLB AS; 1988 NL Rookie of the Year
Kal Daniels (1983)
Kurt Stillwell (1984) MLB All-Star
Rob Dibble (1985) 2 x MLB All-Star
Reggie Sanders (1990) MLB All-Star
Bengie Molina (1994–95)
Jason Dickson (1995) MLB All-Star
Jarrod Washburn (1995)
Ramón Ortiz (1997)
Ken Hill (1998) MLB All-Star
John Lackey (2000) MLB All-Star; 2007 AL ERA Leader
Bobby Jenks (2001) 2 x MLB All-Star
Mike Napoli (2001–02) MLB All-Star
Ervin Santana (2002) 2 x MLB All-Star
Casey Kotchman (2002)
Jeff Mathis (2002)
Joel Peralta (2002)
Joe Saunders (2002) MLB All-Star
Alberto Callaspo (2003)
Erick Aybar (2003) MLB All-Star
Howie Kendrick (2004) MLB All-Star; 2019 World Series Champion – Washington Nationals
Sean Rodriguez (2004)
Alexi Casilla (2004–05)
Miguel González (2005)
Nick Adenhart (2006) Died Age 22
Darren O'Day (2006) MLB All-Star
Mark Trumbo (2006–07) MLB All-Star
Jordan Walden (2008) MLB All-Star
Mike Trout (2009–10) 8 x MLB All-Star; 2012 AL Rookie of the Year; 3 x AL Most Valuable Player (2014, 2016, 2019)
Garrett Richards (2010)
Jean Segura (2010) MLB All-Star
Patrick Corbin (2010) 2 x MLB All-Star; 2019 World Series Champion – Washington Nationals
Mike Clevinger (2012)
Byron Buxton (2013)
Joe Mauer (2014) 6 x MLB All-Star; 3 x AL Batting Title (2006, 2008, 2009); 2009 AL Most Valuable Player; MLB Hall of Fame
Ricky Nolasco (2015)

References

^ "Cedar Rapids Kernels" (PDF). 2018 Media Guide. Cedar Rapids Kernels. 2018. p. 2. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Belden Hill Park Minor League History | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
^ "The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
^ Cedar Rapids Baseball Club
^ "Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball Team in Cedar Rapids, IA - 950 Rockford Rd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA - Superpages.com". Superpages.
^ ^a ^b "Cedar Rapids, Iowa Encyclopedia - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
^ "1949 Cedar Rapids Rockets Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.

Sources

Dinda, Joel (2003), "Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the Midwest League"
Koolbeck, Mike, "History of Cedar Rapids Professional Baseball", published in the Cedar Rapids Kernels Souvenir Program, 2001

External links

Official website
Media related to Cedar Rapids Kernels at Wikimedia Commons

[1] "Cedar Rapids Kernels" (PDF). 2018 Media Guide. Cedar Rapids Kernels. 2018. p. 2. Retrieved November 6, 2018.

[baseball-reference.com-2] "Belden Hill Park Minor League History | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

[3] "The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 23, 2019.

[4] Cedar Rapids Baseball Club

[5] "Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball Team in Cedar Rapids, IA - 950 Rockford Rd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA - Superpages.com". Superpages.

[baseball-reference.com1-6] "Cedar Rapids, Iowa Encyclopedia - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.

[JMayo2-12-2021-7] Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

[MWLrename-8] "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.

[9] "1949 Cedar Rapids Rockets Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.

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