Brian Dinkelman
Brian Adam Dinkelman
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 195 lbs
- School McKendree College
- High School Centralia High School
- Debut June 4, 2011
- Last Game September 28, 2011
- Born November 10, 1983 in Centralia, IL USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Brian Dinkelman reached the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2011.
Dinkelman was a two-time NAIA All-American in college, finishing as the all-time NAIA leader in hits (373), doubles (96), runs (303) and total bases (670). The Twins chose him in the eighth round of the 2006 amateur draft.
Brian debuted as a pro with the 2006 Elizabethton Twins, hitting .298/.338/.420 with a team-high 32 RBI in 46 games. In 2007, the Illinois native hit .283/.373/.437 for the Beloit Snappers (67 G) and .255/.361/.389 for the Fort Myers Miracle (64 G). Overall, he stole 18 bases in 21 tries, legged out 10 triples and scored 104 runs. He led all Twins minor leaguers in three-baggers and runs.
Dinkelman produced at a .293/.399/.414 rate in 63 games for Fort Myers in 2008, then hit only .247/.299/.369 after being promoted to the New Britain Rock Cats for his first struggles as a pro. Back with New Britain in 2009, he improved to .296/.383/.440 with 38 doubles. He was second in the Eastern League in doubles (two behind Jon Still), fourth in OBP and 7th in average. He tied Ramon Santana for the best OBP by a Twins minor leaguer and tied Danny Valencia for the most doubles. He made the Eastern League All-Star team as a utility man.
Dinkelman spent 2010 with the Rochester Red Wings and began the next season with the team before being called up by the Twins in June 2011. Dinkelman played in 23 Major League games that year, batting .301 with four RBI.
Dinkelman served as a hitting coach with the GCL Twins in 2015 and Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2016-2018. He became a manager with Cedar Rapids in 2019. In his first four years as Kernels manager, Cedar Rapids was over .500 every season, in the postseason all four years, and played in two Midwest League Championship series. In 2023, the Kernels posted a league-best 82-50 regular season record en route to the Kernels' first Midwest League championship in 29 years. For these efforts, Dinkelman was named the League's Manager of the Year. The winning season streak continued in 2024, but this time Cedar Rapids came up short in their quest for another playoff berth.
Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Midwest League | 78-62 | 6th | Minnesota Twins | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2021 | Cedar Rapids Kernels | High-A Central | 67-53 | 2nd | Minnesota Twins | Lost League Finals |
| 2022 | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Midwest League | 73-58 | 4th (t) | Minnesota Twins | Lost in 1st round |
| 2023 | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Midwest League | 82-50 | 1st | Minnesota Twins | League Champs |
| 2024 | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Midwest League | 67-63 | 7th | Minnesota Twins |
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