Wichita Wind Surge

Last updated
Wichita Wind Surge
Wichita Wind Surge logo.png
Minor league affiliations
Class Double-A (2021–present)
Previous classes Triple-A (2020)
League Texas League (2022–present)
DivisionNorth Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Team Minnesota Twins (2021–present)
Previous teams Miami Marlins (2020)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Division titles (2)
  • 2021
  • 2022
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2022
Team data
NameWichita Wind Surge (2020–present)
ColorsNavy blue, red, sky blue, yellow gold, white [1]
     
Ballpark Riverfront Stadium
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Diamond Baseball Holdings
General managerMatt Hamilton [2]
ManagerRamon Borrego

The Wichita Wind Surge are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Wichita, Kansas, and began play in 2021 at Riverfront Stadium.

Contents

The Wind Surge were supposed to begin play in 2020 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins in the Pacific Coast League. However, a combination of the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Major League Baseball's realignment of the minor leagues for 2021, resulted in the team dropping down to Double-A as affiliates of the Twins without having played a Triple-A game.

History

Prior to 2020, the Wind Surge were located in Metairie, Louisiana, playing for 24 seasons as the New Orleans Zephyrs before being renamed the Baby Cakes for two seasons. In 1993, the Denver Zephyrs had been forced to move due to the creation of the Colorado Rockies expansion franchise in Major League Baseball. Before 1984, they played for nearly 30 years as the Denver Bears.

In September 2018, the city of Wichita paid US$2.2 million to the Wichita Wingnuts to break their lease at Lawrence–Dumont Stadium, with plans to demolish it and build a larger ballpark to host an affiliated Minor League Baseball team. [3] The city later announced that a new $75 million stadium would be built to host the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes, who agreed to relocate to Wichita beginning with the 2020 season. [4]

The club announced its nickname, Wind Surge, in November 2019. [5] The name was met with criticism from Wichita residents following the announcement. [6] Later in the day the name was announced, a Change.org petition was started to change the name. [7] In less than 24 hours, the petition had already collected over 7,400 signatures. [7]

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wind Surge were scheduled to begin their inaugural season on the road playing against the Round Rock Express on April 8, 2020, [8] and to play their first home game on April 14 against the Memphis Redbirds. [9] Initially postponed due to the pandemic, the season was ultimately cancelled on June 30. [10] [11] Owner Lou Schwechheimer died from complications from COVID on July 29, 2020. [12]

In 2021, the team dropped to the Double-A classification without having played a Triple-A game due to Major League Baseball's realignment of the minor leagues after the 2020 season. [13] Instead of being a Miami Marlins affiliate, the Wind Surge became affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. [14] They were placed in the Double-A Central. [15] Wichita began competition in the new league on May 4 with a 2–0 victory over the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri. [16] The Wind Surge won the Northern Division title by finishing the 2021 season in first place with a 69–51 record. [17] They qualified for the championship playoffs by possessing the league's best record. [18] In the best-of-five series, they were defeated by the second-place Northwest Arkansas Naturals, 3–2. [19] Wichita manager Ramon Borrego was selected as the league's Manager of the Year. [20] In 2022, the Double-A Central became known as the Texas League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization. [21]

Roster

PlayersCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 32 Travis Adams
  • 21 Denny Bentley ~
  • 46 Jose Bravo
  • 25 Jordan Brink
  • 35 Andrew Cabezas
  • 55 Chad Donato ~
  • 40 David Festa
  • 51 Taylor Floyd
  • 30 Osiris German
  • 38 Regi Grace
  • 12 Carlos Luna
  • 17 Hunter McMahon
  • 46 Pierson Ohl
  • 37 Francis Peguero
  • 50 Alex Phillips
  • 31 Aaron Rozek
  • 41 Curtis Taylor

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

  •  1 Yoyner Fajardo
  •  8 DaShawn Keirsey Jr.
  • 44 Armani Smith
  •  0 Alerick Soularie


Manager

  • 23 Ramon Borrego

Coaches

  • -- Corbin Day (hitting)
  • 52 D.J. Engle (pitching)
  • -- Carlos Hernandez (pitching)
  • -- Yeison Perez (hitting)

60-day injured list

Injury icon 2.svg 7-day injured list
* On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated January 26, 2024
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB    Texas League
Minnesota Twins minor league players

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas League</span> American sports league in minor league baseball

The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the state of Texas; the five North Division teams are located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The league temporarily operated for the 2021 season as Double-A Central before reassuming its original moniker in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Orleans Baby Cakes</span> Minor league baseball team

The New Orleans Baby Cakes were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They were located in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, and played their home games at the Shrine on Airline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence–Dumont Stadium</span>

Lawrence–Dumont Stadium, previously known as Lawrence Stadium, was a baseball stadium in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It was located on the northwest corner of McLean Boulevard and Maple Street, along the west bank of the Arkansas River, in the Delano neighborhood of downtown Wichita. The stadium held 6,400 fans and most recently was the home field of the Wichita Wingnuts independent baseball team from 2008 until 2018, and was home to the annual National Baseball Congress World Series from 1935 until 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Association of Professional Baseball</span> Baseball league

The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor league affiliates. Joshua Schaub is the league commissioner. League offices are located in Moorhead, Minnesota. Though a separate entity, the league shared a commissioner and director of umpires with the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball during that league's existence. The American Association of Professional Baseball has 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. In 2020, as part of MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues, the American Association, together with the Atlantic League and the Frontier League, became an official MLB Partner League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Clevlen</span> American baseball player (born 1983)

Brent Aaron Clevlen is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played parts of four major leagues seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wichita Aeros</span> Minor league baseball team

The Wichita Aeros were an American minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the Triple-A American Association from 1970 through 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Arkansas Naturals</span> Minor league baseball team

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, which opened in 2008 and is located at the intersection of Gene George Boulevard and Watkins Avenue. The team relocated from Wichita, Kansas, in 2008, where it was known as the Wichita Wranglers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wichita Wingnuts</span> Baseball team in Wichita, Kansas, United States

The Wichita Wingnuts were an independent baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas, in the United States. The Wingnuts were members of the South Division of the American Association of Professional Baseball.

Below are select minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Minnesota Twins:

Omar David Bencomo Lamas is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007 as an undrafted free agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverfront Stadium (Wichita)</span>

Riverfront Stadium is a baseball park in downtown Wichita, Kansas, United States. It serves as the home ballpark of the Wichita Wind Surge of the Texas League. The team relocated from the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, Louisiana, after the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Wallner</span> American baseball player (born 1997)

Matthew John Wallner is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simeon Woods Richardson</span> American baseball player (born 2000)

Simeon Woods Richardson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the United States national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Bryson Cole Sands is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Martin</span> American baseball player (born 1999)

Christopher Austin Martin is an American professional baseball infielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Winder</span> American baseball player (born 1996)

Joshua Stewart Winder is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Steer</span> American baseball player (born 1997)

Spencer Gordon Steer is an American professional baseball utility player for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Yennier Canó Banes is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Minnesota Twins and was an All-Star in 2023 for the Orioles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louie Varland</span> American baseball player (born 1997)

Louis Dennis Varland is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Kody Funderburk is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB).

References

  1. Hill, Benjamin (November 13, 2019). "It's a breeze: Wind Surge blow into Wichita". PCLBaseball.com. MLB Advanced Media . Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  2. Grubbs, Tim (February 26, 2024). "Wind Surge Name New General Manager". MiLB. Retrieved April 5, 2024. The Wichita Wind Surge has named Matt Hamilton as the new General Manager.
  3. Lefler, Dion (September 11, 2018). "Wichita OKs $81 Million for New Stadium Project, $2.2 Million for Wingnuts to Go". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  4. Lefler, Dion (December 11, 2018). "City Hall Picks Team to Design, Build Wichita's New Minor League Baseball Park". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  5. "Wichita Wind Surge the official new team name of Wichita Baseball". KSN-TV . Nexstar Media Group. November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  6. Perez Tobias, Suzanne (November 14, 2019). "Wind Scourge: Wichita's New Baseball Team Name Doesn't Blow Us Away". The Wichita Eagle.
  7. 1 2 "Petition Aims to Change the Name of Wichita's Baseball Team" . Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  8. "Round Rock Express 2020 Schedule". Round Rock Express. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. "2020 Home Schedule" (PDF). Wichita Baseball. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  11. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  12. Reynolds, Shelby (Jul 29, 2020). "Wind Surge Owner Lou Schwechheimer, 62, Dies from COVID Complications". Wichita Business Journal.
  13. Eldridge, Taylor (1 December 2020). "Wichita's baseball team will drop to Double-A, source says; no MLB announcement yet". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  14. E Neal III, La Velle (1 December 2020). "Twins' new affiliates in St. Paul and Wichita will be announced this week". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  15. Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  16. "Wind Surge vs. Cardinals Box Score 05/04/21". Minor League Baseball. May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  17. "2021 Double-A Central". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  18. Heneghan, Kelsie (July 1, 2021). "Playoffs Return to the Minor Leagues". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  19. Horrorbin, Jordan (September 25, 2021). "Hicklen's Slam Powers Northwest Arkansas to Title". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  20. "Postseason All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  21. "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.