Eli Jones Dominates in Hot Start for Cedar Rapids Kernels

The young pitcher is setting the tone for the Kernels' pitching staff this season.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:38am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into overlapping planes of bright colors, representing the Kernels' strong pitching to start the season.A young pitcher's dominant start on the mound reflects the Kernels' high-powered pitching staff.Cedar Rapids Today

Eli Jones, a pitcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the Midwest League, has gotten off to an impressive start to the 2026 season, dominating opposing hitters in his first four outings. Jones credits his success to getting ahead of batters and staying ahead, a lesson he hopes the rest of the Kernels' pitching staff can learn from.

Why it matters

The Kernels' pitching has been a key factor in the team's success in recent years, and Jones' hot start could set the tone for the rest of the staff as they look to make a playoff push this season.

The details

In his four starts so far, Jones has been nearly unhittable, posting a 0.75 ERA and striking out 28 batters in 24 innings of work. He credits his success to his ability to get ahead of hitters early in counts and then put them away, a strategy he hopes the rest of the Kernels' pitching staff can emulate.

  • Jones has made four starts for the Kernels so far this season.
  • The Midwest League season began in early April 2026.

The players

Eli Jones

A pitcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the Midwest League, who has gotten off to a dominant start to the 2026 season.

Cedar Rapids Kernels

A minor league baseball team in the Midwest League, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.

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What they’re saying

“I've obviously been on a bit of a hot streak,”

— Eli Jones, Kernels Pitcher

The takeaway

Jones' dominant start to the season could be a sign of things to come for the Kernels' pitching staff, as they look to build on their success from recent years and make a deep playoff run in 2026.