April 8, 2008 – The Cedar Rapids Kernels announce today that infielder Hector Estrella and RHP Esmerlin Jimenez have been placed on the disabled list and that infielder Ivan Contreras and RHP A.J. Ford have joined the team from Extended Spring Training.

Estrella pulled a hamstring muscle in Sunday’s 7-6 extra inning loss at Clinton and Jimenez, who had not appeared in a game for the Kernels this season, had a finger injury.

Ivan Contreras was signed by the Angels as a nondrafted free agent in 2005 and spent the 2007 season at Tempe. He posted a .311 average with 1 HR and 32 RBI and was 21 for 29 in stolen base attempts. He led the Arizona League in at bats (222) and hits (69).

A.J. Ford was signed by the Angels as a nondrafted free agent in 2007 and made 17 relief appearances for Tempe last season. In 28.1 IP, he had a 1-1 record and 3.18 ERA, allowing 28 hits and 14 runs (10 earned) with five walks and 21 strikeouts.

Contreras and Ford will be in uniform and available for Tuesday’s 6:30 pm game with Quad City.

With today’s transactions, the Kernels roster stands at the MWL maximum of 25 players with two players on the disabled list.