April 5, 2013

This date in Kernels history – April 5, 2008 – Jordan Walden

This date in Kernels history – April 5, 2008 – Jordan Walden

Walden was traded to the Atlanta Braves this past offseason.

The Sprouting News

This will be my 8th season (2005-present) working as the stadium operations guy here with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. I will be reminiscing the best performances by the Kernels during my tenure to add to my This Date in Kernels Alumni History features this year. Its not quite the best in Kernels history as the team became the Kernels in 1993 as we started our affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but it is a start and research is never truly complete anyway.

On April 5, 2008, Jordan Walden pitched a complete game taking the loss as the Kernels fell 1-0 to the Clinton Lumberkings. Walden struck out four while allowing one run, six hits and a pair of walks in his Kernels debut.

Jordan Walden posted a 4-6 record and a 2.18 E.R.A. in 18 starts for Cedar Rapids in 2008. Walden struck out 91 batters in…

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April 4, 2013

This date in Kernels history – April 4, 2008 – Tyler Johnson

This date in Kernels history – April 4, 2008 – Tyler Johnson

The Sprouting News

On April 4, 2008, Tyler Johnson was 2-4 at the plate with a HR, two RBI and scored a pair of runs as the Kernels defeated the Clinton Lumberkings 10-6.

Tyler Johnson hit .223 with 9 HR, 19 doubles, 24 stolen bases and 40 RBI during the 2008 season for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 72-66 record under manager Keith Johnson…

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March 11, 2013

Cedar Rapids Professional Baseball Alumni in the World Baseball Classic

I am beginning to try and help contribute to a local sports website called MetroSportsReport.com. The site covers a wide variety of sports in the Cedar Rapids area. They started with coverage of high school and collegiate events and now are branching out to cover the Cedar Rapids Kernels more in depth this season. Check the site out if you are interested. I will continue to post here as well as my blog posts tend to run longer than what they are looking for. I can’t help it. I tend to continue to branch out with each topic until people forget where the conversation started. Character flaw perhaps. At any rate I did some additional research into the World Baseball Classic and the Cedar Rapids professional baseball alumni who have participated in the event and here is what I came up with. Some of this content may be repeat info from previous blog posts, so I apologize in advance.

The World Baseball Classic has returned this spring for its third competition. Once again there are several Cedar Rapids professional baseball alumni coaching and competing in the event. Erick Aybar (2003), Michael Collins (2004-05), Ever Magallanes (2007), Efren Navarro (2008), Nick Pugliese (2009) and Hainley Statia (2006) each are representing their countries this year.

Nick Pugliese is playing for Italy and struck out one batter in 1 1/3 scoreless innings of work to earn the win as Italy defeated Mexico 6-5 in the opening game of pool D. Italy has advanced to the second round after defeating Canada in their second game. 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. Pugliese pitched in the Angels minor league system until 2011. He spent the 2012 season pitching professionally in Italy.

Efren Navarro and Ever Magallanes each represented Mexico in the event this year. Mexico has been eliminated from the competition after losses to Italy and Canada despite topping the United States. Navarro was a 2008 Midwest League All-Star for the Kernels. He hit .269 with 18 doubles, 2 HR and 45 RBI in 94 games for Cedar Rapids. Navarro played for the Salt Lake Bees (Angels Triple-A) in 2012.

Ever Magallanes managed the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 78-61 record in 2007 season. Magallanes was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame this past winter along with Fernando Valenzuela and Houston Jimenez. Magallanes played 11 seasons for the Monterrey Sultanes, Tabasco Olmecas, and the Oaxaca Guerreros in the Mexican League. He appeared in three major league games with the Cleveland Indians making three plate appearances in 1991 earning a walk in one of them. Magallanes has been working within the Chicago White Sox organization as a manager and coach since 2009.

Erick Aybar is making his World Baseball Classic playing for the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has earned a spot in the second round of the tournament. 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.

Michael Collins is making his third appearance in the World Baseball Classic. He coached Australia in pool B this year after playing for the team in the classic in 2009 and 2006. Collins hit .320 with 32 doubles, 7 HR, 64 RBI and stole 16 bases in 100 games during the 2005 season for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 65-75 record under manager Bobby Magallanes. Collins was a member of the 2004 Kernels teams as well hitting .207 with 1 HR and 12 RBI in 33 games.

Michael Collins played baseball in the Angels organization for eight seasons (2001-08). Collins played in the Padres minor league system in 2009-10 before returning to Australia where he has played for the Canberra Calvary during the 2010 and 2011 seasons of the Australian Baseball League.

Hainley Statia is representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic for the third time. Statia is among a very select group to be selected to play in all three WBC competitions (2006, 2009, and 2013). Hainley Statia hit .297 with 1 HR, 31 doubles, 38 RBI and stole 23 bases in 111 games for the 2006 Kernels squad.

There have been 15 Cedar Rapids professional baseball alumni who have made a combined 23 appearances on the World Baseball Classic rosters. Here is the complete list of Cedar Rapids professional baseball alumni who have been selected to coach or play in the WBC.

2006 World Baseball Classic

Australia

Michael Collins (2004-05)

Trent Durrington (1996)

Rich Thompson (2003)

Canada

Steve Green (1998)

Aaron Guiel (1994)

Italy

Tom Gregorio (2000)

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Hainley Statia (2006)

United States

Scot Shields (1998)

2009 World Baseball Classic

Australia

Michael Collins (2004-05)

Rich Thompson (2003)

Canada

Steve Green (1998)

Dominican Republic

Luis Pujols – coach (Cedar Rapids Astros – 1974)

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Hainley Statia (2006)

Mexico

Ever Magallanes – coach (Cedar Rapids manager – 2007)

Freddy Sandoval (2005)

Panama

Kevin Ramos (2010)

United States

Scot Shields (1998)

2013 World Baseball Classic

Australia

Michael Collins – coach (2004-05)

Dominican Republic

Erick Aybar (2003)

Italy

Nick Pugliese (2009)

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Hainley Statia (2005)

Mexico

Ever Magallanes – coach (Cedar Rapids manager – 2007)

Efren Navarro (2008)

March 7, 2013

NIck Pugliese (2009) earns win as Italy defeats Mexico in opening game of World Baseball Classic

Nick Pugliese (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2009) struck out one in 1 1/3 scoreless innings of work to earn the win as Italy defeated Mexico in the opening game of pool D of the World Baseball Classic. Italy rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the ninth and held on for the 6-5 victory.

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.

Efren Navarro (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2008) and Ever Magallanes (Cedar Rapids Kernels manager- 2007) each were representing Mexico in the event. Navarro led off the bottom of the ninth with a pinch hit single. Mexico would load the bases with two outs before Jorge Cantu grounded out to second to end the game.

Efren Navarro was a 2008 Midwest League All-Star for the Kernels. He hit .269 with 18 doubles, 2 HR and 45 RBI in 94 games for Cedar Rapids. Ever Magallanes led the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 78-61 record in 2007 season, which was the Kernels first winning season and playoff season during my time working there. Magallanes has been working within the Chicago White Sox organization as a manager and coach since 2009.

March 3, 2013

Bobby Cassevah (2007) signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies

Bobby Cassevah (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2007) has signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. Cassevah elected free agency after being removed from the Angels 40 man roster earlier in the week. Bobby Cassevah posted a 2-1 record with 1 save and a 2.32 E.R.A. in 18 appearances out of the Kernels bullpen in 2007. Cassevah struck out 25 in 31 innings of work.

He made his MLB debut on April 9, 2010 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Cassevah has compiled a 3-3 record with a 3.20 E.R.A. in 50 games out of the Angels bullpen between 2010-12. He was 1-0 with a 7.20 E.R.A. in four games with the Angels in 2012.

February 18, 2013

Darren O’Day (2006) has signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles

Darren O’Day (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2006) has signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles with a club option for a third year. O’Day is guaranteed $5.8M counting the $400k buyout with the third year option available to the team at $4.5M.

Darren O’Day posted a 3-1 mark with a 2.70 E.R.A. in 23 1/2 innings of work over 17 appearances for Cedar Rapids in 2006. The Kernels squad that finished 65-74 under manager Bobby Magallanes.

The Orioles had claimed righty reliever O’Day off waivers from the Rangers in 2011. O’Day, 29, had battled through injuries and posted a 0-1 record with a 5.40 E.R.A. He joined the Rangers via an April 2009 waiver claim from the Mets. From that point through the end of the 2010 season, O’Day provided the Rangers a 1.99 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 0.61 HR/9 in 117 2/3 innings. He made an appearance in four of the 2010 World Series games. Darren O’Day went 7-1 with a 2.28 E.R.A. in 69 games out of the Orioles bullpen in 2012. O’Day struck out 69 batters in 67 innings of work. He has compiled a career mark of 15-6 with a 2.73 E.R.A.

February 16, 2013

Casey Kotchman (2002) signs minor league deal with the Miami Marlins

Casey Kotchman (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2002) has signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins. The deal includes and invite to big league camp.

Casey Kotchman was a member of the Cedar Rapids Kernels squad that opened New Veterans Memorial Stadium in 2002. Kotchman hit .281 with 5 HR, 30 doubles and 50 RBI in 81 games as the Kernels finished 81-58 under manager Todd Clauss defeating Quad Cities in the opening round and then losing to Peoria in the semi finals of the Midwest League playoffs.

Casey Kotchman has hit .262 with 71 HR and 387 RBI during his nine year MLB career playing for the Angels, Braves, Red Sox, Mariners, Rays and Indians. Kotchman hit .229 with 12 HR and 55 RBI for the Indians in 2012.

February 9, 2013

P.J. Phillips (2007) has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers

P.J. Phillips (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2007) has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Phillips hit .245 with 11 doubles, 13 HR, 37 RBI and stole 34 bases in 119 games during the 2007 season for the Kernels. Phillips was selected to play in the 2007 Midwest League All-Star game. 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.

P.J. Phillips was signed by the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2012 season after being released by the Angels after six seasons. Phillips hit .198 with 2 HR, 15 RBI and stole 5 bases in 68 games playing for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Double-A) and appeared in four games for the Louisville Bats (Triple-A) in 2012.

February 8, 2013

Ever Magallanes (2007) has been inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame

Ever Magallanes (Cedar Rapids Kernels manager – 2007) has been inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame this past week along with Fernando Valenzuela and Houston Jimenez. Magallanes played 11 seasons for the Monterrey Sultanes, Tabasco Olmecas, and the Oaxaca Guerreros in the Mexican League. He appeared in three major league games with the Cleveland Indians making three plate appearance in 1991 earning a walk in one of them. On a side note, my second cousin, Rod Nichols, was the starting pitcher in one of those three games Magallanes played in.

Ever Magallanes led the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 78-61 record in 2007 season, which was the Kernels first winning season and playoff season during my time working there. Magallanes has been working within the Chicago White Sox organization as a manager and coach since 2009. He and his brother Bobby Magallanes (Cedar Rapids Kernels manager 2004-05) have been selected to coach at the annual MLB Futures Game at the All-Star break multiple times.

February 7, 2013

Joe Saunders (2002) signed a one year deal with the Seattle Mariners

Joe Saunders (2002) has signed a one year free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners. Joe Saunders 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. Saunders was 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in five starts for the Kernels. He struck out 27 batters in 28 2/3 innings of work.

Saunders posted a 3-3 record with a 3.63 E.R.A. in 7 starts for the Orioles in 2012. The Baltimore Orioles traded Matt Lindstrom and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks to acquire Joe Saunders (2002) on August 26 this season. He had posted a 6-10 record with a 4.22 E.R.A. in 21 starts for Arizona prior to the trade. Saunders was acquired by the Diamondbacks along with Patrick Corbin (2010), Tyler Skaggs (2010) and Rafael Rodriguez (2003-05) from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Dan Haren on July 25, 2010. Saunders has compiled a 78-65 career MLB record with a 4.15 E.R.A. in eight season pitching for the Angels, Diamondbacks and Orioles.