Cedar Rapids, IA - Former Kernel Mike Trout was the unanimous choice as the Jackie Robinson American League Rookie of the Year, as chosen by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). Trout received all 28 first place votes and is the youngest player to win the award at age 21, edging Lou Whitaker (1978) by two months and 26 days.

Trout was selected by the Angels in the first round (25th overall) of the 2009 First Year Player Draft out of Millville (NJ) HS and played for the Kernels in 2009 and 2010. He played 81 games for the Kernels in 2010, batting .362 with six HR, 39 RBI and 45 stolen bases in 52 chances, and was named the 2010 Midwest League Top Prospect and Most Valuable Player.

Trout finished his first full MLB season batting .326 with 30 HR, 89 RBI, 129 runs scored and 49 stolen bases. He joins Ted Williams, Mel Ott and Alex Rodriguez as the only players to hit .320 or higher and have 30 or more home runs in seasons they started as a 20-year old.

He is the second player in the history of Cedar Rapids Professional Baseball to win Rookie of the Year as Chris Sabo won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1988 with the Cincinnati Reds after playing with the Cedar Rapids Reds in 1983.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels open the 2013 Midwest League Season at home on Thursday, April 4th against the Beloit Snappers at 6:35 pm. Season ticket packages and 10-game anytime coupon books for the 2013 season are on sale now. Individual game tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 18th at 10 am.

The Kernels main office is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday during the off-season. More information can also be found on the Kernels website at www.kernels.com, or through the Kernels' social media sites on Facebook and Twitter.