Kernels Fan

Tyler Wells is ready to take his place.

Predict JT Perez will make it back to Cedar Rapids in quick fashion and excel as a middle reliever.

At some point we really need to test Hackimer on the same batters Smeltzer faced last night.

Hackimer--only 6 hit batters this year. I think I saw him hit six batters in one inning while he was in Cedar Rapids. Considering his throws looking like they're coming from third base, this is a remarkable improvement in control. Keep up the good work Hack and you'll be eating Crunch Berries with Arraez again in the locker room.

Would love to see Hackimer get moved up a notch or two. After his injury and rehab, he seems to have a lot more control and maturity. He used to hit every other batter, of course since the ball is essentially coming in from third base. But he hasn't really been challenged at High-A ball this year. Move Dusten Knight to Rochester and Hackimer to Pensacola?

It would be interesting to see who excels at Fortnite again versus the players that excel on the field. Correlation or causation? Hard to know for sure but it would be interesting to track how many failures come from an addiction to that game.

Anyone that knows Andro will tell you he's a great guy. We were lucky enough to have hosted him when he was in Cedar Rapids, when he was out there throwing pitches in a game while it was snowing. Not kidding there. He was always a gentleman and scholar. Not kidding there either--was hugely motivated to finish his college career even studying after games. Can't say enough great things about Andro and hope that he stays healthy this year and moves toward the big league. Perhaps we'll see him pitching during a snowy game in Minneapolis... and thanks for the excellent write-up!

Two words: Tommy Watkins

Truly an earned honor for Tyler. We've seen Tyler from the outside and seen him from the inside. He's true to this award.

Van Stensel tends to moan a lot about travel, weather, inadequate pay. I wonder if he has considered a career change? I understand the pay isn't sufficient at this time of their lives, kind of like paying to go to college in order to eventually procure a better job. But last year he pitched an average one inning every 3 days. I'd say $1,900 is doable. This year he has pitched 1.1 inning and is complaining a lot. Remember--every Kernels player is given a free place to stay, most with many amenities including cable, A/C, cable, and for many, even a car to use for free.

Shouldn't Watson be on your Top Prospect Summary? Seems he would make the top 20 by most standards.

Perhaps Tommy Watkins wanted to return to Fort Myers and keep coaching the kids he sent down there earlier in the year?

Any reason Lachlan Wells has been sitting on the Kernels roster (of 26 actives) for the past few days?

I think Theofanopoulos can pitch more than 2.1 innings. Why not keep him in there when he was doing so well?

If Booser's not serious about baseball, why not pack his bags for him and send him home? Find some players that don't abuse drugs--our kids don't need to look up to those guys. Take a hard stance finally.

...Their solution was for whatever team drafts Greene to put him on a physical training program to add 30 pounds of muscle, then clean up his pitching mechanics to preserve his elbow. They practically predicted TJ surgery if this was not done. Send him to Cedar Rapids. We'll feed him sweet corn and filet, find a nice nurse that understands physiology for him to date, and have him train with JP Martinez until he is ready for the big time.

Watching all of those strikeouts combined really shows the frustration of these batters. Hard for Tyler Wells to compete for Pitcher of the Day when he has Turley pitching that crazy stuff!

Great to see Tyler Wells back to the mound tonight!

Super-disappointed by the decision to cut Cederoth. I did hear that he's being considered by other teams, so perhaps this will be a good thing for him. Get him excited to throw strikes again. In the times I have met him, I've admired his poise and maturity. He's thoughtful, well-spoken, and deserves a chance to develop further.

Nice to see LeBlanc moved up to the Lookouts again. He's proven himself at low/high A clubs.

It was 46 degrees, a cold wind and sprinkles, and in general a crappy night that is risky for any pitcher to be throwing in.

Some of the players I've met had interesting experiences there. The housing situation was the most disappointing, according to them. They crunched players into ramshackle housing and charged them high rents relative to their salaries. When the program needed more housing, they would squeeze more players into nonconforming living situations and not drop the rent for the others. It was just part of the overall economic situations there. The hosts needed tenants as a source of income and the players felt squeezed. Much different than the Kernels and their host family program.

Have to give JP Martinez great credit for another season of fantastic pitching as well. He's well-respected by his players and makes a great compliment to Jake's coaching.

We are a new host family for Kernels players this year and have learned so much from these minor league reports. It's fun to learn about people coming and going from our team, and how some of our favorites are progressing through the system. You've done a great service for the Twins and we would love to thank you. Should you come to Cedar Rapids, I would happily buy you a cold beverage, treat you to a nice meal, and introduce you to any players we are hosting. You've done great things for all of them.

Great to see Wells continue his strong pitching. Cederoth came in at the right time and really put his mark on the game with extraordinary pitching.