Talkin' Kernels with Calvin Christoforo

[Seth Stohs]

Calvin Christoforo is in his second season as the radio voice of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He saw the Kernels win their first Midwest League championship in 29 years last year, and his year's team is playing really well too. Get to know a little about Calvin and a bunch about some very talented prospects on the Kernels roster. 

Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily (photo of Ricardo Olivar, Danny De Andrade, Gabriel Gonzalez, Dillon Tatum)

The Kernels are off to a fast 38-26. They enter this week's games with a 1/2 game lead over Wisconsin in the Midwest League's Western Division. It is a roster that is filled by several very talented players, and that is after pitchers Zebby Matthews and Andrew Morris were promoted in recent weeks to Wichita. And now on Monday, second baseman Luke Keaschall was promoted to the Wind Surge. 

This conversation - from Friday afternoon - is a lot of fun and gives a good idea of the kind of talent on this roster. Enjoy! 

1:00: This is Calvin’s second season with the Kernels, and he witnessed the Kernels’ first Midwest League championship in 29 years, and the 2024 team is playing great too. 

1:45: We discussed C.J. Culpepper’s six innings of perfect baseball, how he looked and performed. Gabriel Yanez completed two perfect innings. Ricardo Velez has been as good as any pitcher in the Midwest League or in the Twins farm system this year. 

4:35: Calvin discusses his background, what he did in high school to prepare. He went to Syracuse, known as one of the best journalism and broadcast schools in the country. 

6:45: Do you check before a series to see which prospects are coming to town?

9:00: The Cedar Rapids Experience. 

10:10: Syracuse has a very good journalism and broadcast reputation. 

11:30: What advice would you give to a high school kid who might be considering a career in broadcasting? Most have told us to get in front of a mic and get repetitions, but Calvin’s advice is to take it to the next level. Find out what that is here. 

13:50: Luke Keaschall is really good at baseball. In 44 games with the Kernels this year, he hit .335/.457/.544 (1.001) with 12 doubles, seven homers (6 leading off the first inning). He walked more than he struck out (30-29), and he was 14-for-15 in stolen base attempts. 

18:10: Rubel Cespedes was the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Month in April, and he’s still been solid since then. He’s especially been good at driving in runs when they’re out there. In 41 games this year, he is hitting .318/.406/.530 (.936) with 10 doubles, two triples, and six home runs. He also has 37 RBI. 

21:10: Ricardo Olivar is generally considered the top catching prospect in the Twins organization. The 22-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .295/.401/.496 (.897) with nine doubles and five home runs. 

24:10: Gabriel Gonzalez and Danny De Andrade are both on the Injured List, and both have a chance to advance when healthy. 

26:30: Kevin Maitan added to the roster. Rayne Doncon was just promoted from Fort Myers as a 20-year-old. 

30:00: Zebby Matthews made for Kernels starts. Andrew Morris made seven starts for Cedar Rapids. Now both are in Wichita, but Calvin discusses those two along with Cory Lewis and CJ Culpepper. 

33:15: John Klein leads the Kernels in starts. The Minnesota native has been really good signing signing last year. Darren Bowen came over to the Twins from the Mariners in the Jorge Polanco deals this spring. His stuff can be electric. We discuss both of them. 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to discuss the team, the players, or anything else. 

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[Doctor Gast]

Great interview Seth!