Tanner Vavra knows the question about his right eye is going to be asked in almost every interview, but he's learned to deal with the situation over the years.

The Kernels second baseman is blind in his right eye, the result of a fishing accident at age three and a subsequent injury suffered playing football several years later.

Vavra, the son of Minnesota Twins coach Joe Vavra, said questions about his eyesight don't bother him much anymore.

“It’s kind of come and gone. That used to be the biggest concern. People doubted me," he said.

“It irritated me for a while and it’s still a little chip, but I’m just trying to get rid of the whole, ‘You’re here because of your dad,’ type deal.

“I haven’t gotten anything like that from the players, they’ve all been great," he said. "I haven’t heard that once.

"It’s from bloggers and those people that somehow send a letter to your house and tell you that you don’t belong. That’s my chip right now. The eye thing is always going to be there, but that’s my new chip.”

Vavra has proven he belongs with the Kernels by batting .344 in April, the highest average on the club.

While it's understandable Vavra would be sensitive to suggestions that he hasn't earned his place in pro ball, having a father in the game has its benefits.

“This offseason, I got to work with him for 5-6 months. That’s incredible," he said. "Going from usually working with him for three or four weeks over Christmas break to five months. It was definitely helpful.”

Vavra, 24, resides in Menomonie, Wis. He was selected by the Twins in the 30th round of the 2013 draft.

Vavra hit .246 in 42 games at Elizabethton, Tenn., last year in the Appalachian League and was promoted to the Midwest League this season.

Vavra spent a few days recently at the very top of the Midwest League's leader board in batting average. He's reaching base at a .391 clip and carries an .829 OPS.

While most fans may not have expected that kind of production out of Vavra, neither he nor his manager seem terribly surprised, either.

“He’s a guy that really, obviously, has been around the game his whole life, with his dad being a professional baseball guy,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer. “He’s got a lot of baseball instincts.

"He knows himself as a  player. He knows what he needs to do and he plays to his strengths. He’s a guy that puts together good at-bats. He makes the routine plays. He’s definitely earned his playing time.”

Vavra has become a regular at second base for Cedar Rapids. He has eight RBIs and has scored 12 runs in 17 games. He's hitting .400 with runners on base.

“I’m just trying to put good swings on (the ball) and help the team win,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay with the same approach and kind of just get my pitch and get on base."