Fernando Rodriguez (2005) traded to the Oakland Athletics as part of five player deal
Fernando Rodriguez (2005) and Jed Lowrie were acquired by the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Cris Carter, Brad Peacock and Max Stassi. Rodriguez went 8-10 with a 4.18 E.R.A. and four complete games in 28 starts for Cedar Rapids in 2005. He struck out 128 batters in 157 1/3 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 65-75 record under manager Bobby Magallanes.
Fernando Rodriguez made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 2, 2009. He signed a free agent contract with the Houston Astros prior to the 2011 season. Rodriguez posted a 2-3 record with a 3.96 E.R.A. in 47 games out of the Astros bullpen that year. He struck out 60 batters in 56 inning of work. Rodriguez compiled a 2-10 record with a 5.37 E.R.A. in 71 appearances for the Astros in 2012. He struck out 78 batters in 70 1/3 innings of work.
Chris Pettit (2007) signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles
Chris Pettit (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2007) has signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Pettit hit .346 with 24 doubles, 9 HR and 41 RBI in 64 games before earning a promotion early in the 2007 season. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 78-61 record under manager Ever Magallanes. The Kernels lost to the Clinton Lumberkings in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs. Pettit made his major league debut on September 11, 2009 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Pettit split time playing for the Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners, Double-A), Tulsa Drillers (Colorado Rockies, Double-A) and the Colorado Sky Sox (Colorado Rockies, Triple-A) in 2012. He hit .282 with 21 doubles, 7 HR and 35 RBI in 88 games last year.
Five former Kernels selected to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic
Erick Aybar (2003), Miguel Gonzalez (2005), Joel Peralta (2001-02), Nick Pugliese (2009) and Hainley Statia (2006) have been selected to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Aybar and Peralta will represent the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez will play for Mexico, Pugliese will play for Italy and Statia will represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Dominican Republic squad (Aybar and Peralta) will face Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Spain in pool C in San Juan, Puerto Rico from March 7-10. Erick Aybar hit .308 with six HR, 10 triples, 57 RBI and stole 32 bases in 125 games for the 2003 Cedar Rapids Kernels. The team finished in 10th place at 66-72 under manager Todd Claus.
Aybar has hit .278 with 129 doubles, 33 triples, 32 HR, 251 RBI and stole 98 bases in his seven MLB seasons with the Angels thus far. He won the American League Gold Glove at shortstop in 2011.
Joel Peralta went 0-0 with 23 saves and a 2.13 E.R.A. in 41 games for the the Kernels in 2001. The Kernels finished 60-77 under manager Tyrone Boykin. Peralta returned to post a 5-0 record with 21 saves and a 0.95 E.R.A. in 41 games in 2002. Cedar Rapids posted a 81-58 mark under manager Todd Claus that season. The Kernels defeated Quad Cities before losing to Peoria in the semifinals of the Midwest League Playoffs.
Joel Peralta has posted a 10-21 record with a 3.94 E.R.A. in 407 games pitching for the Angels Royals, Rockies, Nationals and Rays. Peralta has appeared in more than 70 games each of the last two seasons with the Rays.
Mexico (Gonzalez) and Italy (Pugliese) will be facing each other along with the United States and Canada in pool D that will be held in Phoenix, Arizona from March 7-10. Miguel Gonzalez posted a 2-5 record with 8 saves and a 4.70 E.R.A in 28 games for the 2005 Cedar Rapids Kernels. He struck out 42 batters in 44 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the 2005 season with a 65-75 record under manager Bobby Magallanes. Miguel Gonzalez had a break out 2012 season going 9-4 with a 3.25 E.R.A. in 18 games including 15 starts for the Baltimore Orioles. He struck out 77 batters in 105 1/3 innings of work.
Nick Pugliese posted a 3-2 record with 2 saves and a 2.52 E.R.A. in 24 games for the 2009 Kernels squad. Pugliese struck out 46 in 35 2/3 innings of work while finishing 11 games as the Kernels squad finished with a 78-60 record under manager Bill Mosiello defeating the Peoria Chiefs in the opening round of the playoffs before losing in the semifinals to the Burlington Bees. Pugliese pitched in the Angels minor league system until 2011. He spent the 2012 season pitching professionally in Italy.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands (Statia) will be competing with South Korea, Australia and Chinese Taipei in pool B that will be held in Taichung, Taiwan from March 2-5. Hainley Statia hit .297 with 1 HR, 31 doubles, 38 RBI and stole 23 bases in 111 games for the 2005 Kernels squad. Cedar Rapids finished the 2005 season with a 65-75 record under manager Bobby Magallanes. Statia hit .279 for the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A Milwaukee) in 2012.
Jeremy Moore (2008) has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Jeremy Moore (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2008) has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Moore made his MLB debut on September 2, 2011 against the Minnesota Twins. Moore batted .125 and scored three runs in eight games during his September call up with the Angels. He had hit .298 with 24 doubles, 18 triples, 15 HR, 66 RBI and stole 21 bases in 113 games playing for the Salt Lake Bees (AAA) in 2011. Moore spent the 2012 season on the DL due to hip surgery. He was selected by the Angels in the 6th round of the 2005 MLB draft.
Jeremy Moore hit .240 with 11 doubles, 12 triples, 17 HR, 28 stolen bases and 48 RBI in 96 games during the 2008 season for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 72-66 record under manager Keith Johnson. The Kernels topped Clinton in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs before falling to Burlington in the semifinals.
Warner Madrigal (2004-07) has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Warner Madrigal (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2004-07) has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Madrigal made his major league debut on July 2, 2008 with the Texas Rangers. He compiled a 0-2 record with one save and a 6.10 E.R.A. in 44 games during two seasons (2008-09) for the Rangers. Madrigal struck out 27 batters in 48 2/3 innings of work. He appeared in a pair of games for the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees – Double-A) in 2011.
Warner Madrigal posted a 5-4 record with 20 saves and a 2.07 E.R.A. in 54 games for Cedar Rapids in 2007. Madrigal struck out 75 batters in 61 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 78-61 record under manager Ever Magallanes. The Kernels lost to the Clinton Lumberkings in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs. Madrigal played for the Kernels as an outfielder during the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Dallas McPherson (2002) has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Dallas McPherson (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2002) has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. McPherson hit .265 with 17 HR and 62 RBI splitting time playing for the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox – Triple-A) and the Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates – Triple-A) in 2012. He has hit .241 with 18 HR and 45 RBI in 139 games over 5 MLB seasons playing for the Angels, Marlins and White Sox. McPherson last played in the bigs with the White Sox in 2011.
Dallas McPherson was part of the 2002 Kernels team that finished 3rd with a mark of 81-58 under manager Todd Claus. The 2002 team swept Quad Cities in the opening round of the playoffs before falling to Peoria in the second round. McPherson hit .277 with 15 HR, 88 RBI and stole 30 bases in 132 games for the Kernels.
Ramon Ortiz (1997) signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays
Ramon Ortiz (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 1997) has signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that includes an invitation to spring training. Ortiz pitched for the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Triple-A) in 2012 posting a 13-6 record with a 3.45 E.R.A. in 27 starts.
Ramon Ortiz has posted a 86-84 record with a 4.93 ERA thus far during his 11 season MLB career playing for the Angels, Reds, Nationals, Twins, Rockies, Dodgers and Cubs.
Ramon Ortiz was a member of the 1997 Cedar Rapids Kernels squad that finished 62-76 under manager Mario Mendoza. Ortiz posted a 11-10 record and a ERA of 3.58. He led the Kernels with 225 strikeouts in 181 innings of work. Ortiz had recorded the only Kernels no-hitter prior to the 2010 season when he shutdown Quad City on August 7, 1997. Ramon Ortiz pitched a complete game no-hitter against the Quad Cities River Bandits as the Kernels won 12-0 at John O’Donnell Stadium. Ortiz faced one over the minimum number of batters and struck out 14 without issuing a walk. The River Bandits managed just two base runners, each reaching by errors, in the contest. Rob Sasser, Shawn Wooten and Jeff Guiel each homered for the Kernels.
This following article was published in the August 8, 1997 edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. It contained coverage of a Midwest League contest against the Quad Cities River Bandits held on August 7, 1997. The 1997 Cedar Rapids Kernels featured five players who played in Major League baseball after their time in Cedar Rapids (Ramon Ortiz, Brandon Puffer, Jerrod Riggan, Rob Sasser and Shawn Wooten).
Bobby Wilson (2004) signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees
Bobby Wilson (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2004) has signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. Wilson was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the off season and then was designated for assignment to accommodate additional roster moves. Wilson hit .211 with three HR and 13 RBI in 75 games for the Angels in 2012. He has compiled a .208 batting average with eight HR and 27 RBI during his five year MLB career playing for the Angels.
Bobby Wilson hit .268 with 23 doubles, 8 HR and 64 RBI in 105 games for the 2004 Cedar Rapids Kernels squad. Wilson was selected to the Midwest League all-star squad as Cedar Rapids hosted the event. The 2004 Kernels finished with a record of 75-64 under manager Bobby Magallanes before losing in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs to the Clinton Lumbkerkings.
More Cedar Rapids Alumni Minor League signings
This morning’s Sean O’Sullivan (2007) to the Padres post made me realize that I had been tweeting a lot of the minor league free agent signings, but I had not been updating them here on the blog. Here is the most updated list to the best of my knowledge.
David Herndon (2007) was claimed off waivers twice this off season and then was designated for assignment by the Yankees to accompany additional roster moves. Herndon then chose to sign a minor league deal with the Yankees. He posted a 2-8 record with a 3.85 E.R.A. in 97 games for the Phillies between 2010 and 2012 appearing in just five games this season before the injury shut him down.
David Herndon posted a 13-8 record with a 4.02 E.R.A. with two complete games in 25 appearances for Cedar Rapids in 2007. Herndon struck out 83 batters in 152 1/3 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 78-61 record under manager Ever Magallanes. The Kernels lost to the Clinton Lumberkings in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs.
Darwin Perez (2009) signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics after spending seven seasons in the Angels organization. Perez hit .214 with 6 HR and 36 RBI in 126 games for the Arkansas Travelers in 2012. He won the Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove at second base in 2011.
Darwin Perez hit .261 with 2 HR, 42 RBI and stole 11 bases in 106 games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2009. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 78-60 record under manager Bill Mosiello. The Kernels topped Peoria in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs before falling to Burlington in the semifinals.
Trevor Reckling (2008) has signed a minor league deal to join the Chicago White Sox organization. Reckling pitched in the Angels organization for six seasons. He appeared in just four games for the Inland Empire 66ers in 2012. Reckling pitched in the 2009 Futures Game for team USA and reached as high as Triple-A pitching for the Salt Lake Bees in 2010 at the age of 21.
Trevor Reckling posted a 10-7 record with a 3.37 E.R.A. with one complete game in 26 starts for Cedar Rapids in 2008. Reckling struck out 128 batters in 152 1/3 innings of work and was selected to play in the Midwest League All-Star game. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 72-66 record under manager Keith Johnson. The Kernels topped Clinton in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs before falling to Burlington in the semifinals.
Alberto Rosario (2008) signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. Rosario caught within the Angels organization for the last seven seasons. He split time playing for the Arkansas Travelers and the Salt Lake Bees in 2012.
Alberto Rosario hit .239 in 14 games for the 2008 Cedar Rapids Kernels squad before being promoted to play for the the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Hainley Statia (2006) re-signed with the Milwaukee Brewers agreeing to a minor league contract. Statia split time playing for the Huntsville Stars and the Nashville Sounds in 2012.
Hainley Statia hit .297 with 31 doubles, 1 HR, 38 RBI and stole 23 bases for the 2006 Kernels squad. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 65-74 record under manager Bobby Magallanes.
Rich Thompson (2003) signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week. Thompson has compiled a 3-4 record with a 4.21 E.R.A. in six MLB seasons playing for the Angels and Athletics. He has struck out 105 batters in 104 2/3 innings of work in 82 games.
Rich Thompson posted a 1-2 record with a miniscule 0.24 E.R.A. and 9 saves in 31 games for the 2003 Cedar Rapids Kernels. The team finished in 10th place at 66-72 under manager Todd Claus. Thompson played in the 2007 Futures game representing Australia on the World team.
Brandon Wood (2004) signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. Wood had spent the 2012 season playing for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies Triple-A) where he hit .259 with 10 HR and 64 RBI in 119 games. Brandon Wood has hit .186 with 18 HR and 64 RBI during his five MLB seasons playing for the Angels and Pirates.
Brandon Wood was a member of the 2004 Cedar Rapids Kernels team that finished with a record of 75-64 under manager Bobby Magallanes. The Kernels lost in the 1st round of the Midwest League playoffs to the Clinton Lumbkerkings. Wood hit .251 with 11 HR, 30 doubles, 64 RBI and stole 21 bases in 125 games for the Kernels. He won the Midwest League HR Derby at the 2004 MWL All-Star game hosted in Cedar Rapids.
That is all for now. I will continue to try and add these as I see them.
Sean O’Sullivan (2007) signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres
Sean O’Sullivan (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2007) has signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres which included an invite to spring training. O’Sullivan pitched for the Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA) in the Royals organization before a mid season trade sent him to the Blue Jays. He posted a 9-3 record with a 2.72 E.R.A. for the Las Vegas 51s (AAA) in 14 starts following the trade.
Sean O’Sullivan posted a 10-7 record with a 2.22 E.R.A. in 25 starts for Cedar Rapids in 2007. O’Sullivan struck out 125 batters in 158 1/3 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 78-61 record under manager Ever Magallanes. The Kernels lost to the Clinton Lumberkings in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs.
Sean O’Sullivan made his major league debut on June 16, 2009 with the Los Angeles Angels. O’Sullivan was acquired along with Will Smith by the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Alberto Callaspo on July 22, 2010. He had compiled a 10-14 record with a 6.13 E.R.A. in 43 games over three seasons (2009-11) with the Angels and the Royals.
Seth Dohrn
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