Double-A · Texas League · Wichita, Kansas, US · Equity Bank Park
Wichita Wind Surge
Born from the relocation of the New Orleans franchise and housed in a spectacular $75 million riverfront stadium, the Wichita Wind Surge have brought affiliated baseball back to Air Capital City as the Minnesota Twins' Double-A affiliate, developing some of the organization's brightest young stars.
1993–2019
The New Orleans Years
Zephyrs and Baby Cakes on the Gulf Coast
The franchise's predecessor spent over two decades in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Originally the New Orleans Zephyrs, the team was a Triple-A affiliate playing in the Pacific Coast League. For 24 seasons, the Zephyrs served as the top farm club for several organizations, including the Houston Astros, the Washington Nationals, and the Miami Marlins.
In 2017, the team underwent a controversial rebrand, becoming the New Orleans Baby Cakes—a name inspired by the king cake pastry tradition associated with Mardi Gras. While the rebrand generated national attention, it did not arrest declining attendance at Shrine on Airline, the team's aging suburban stadium in Metairie.
By 2019, it was clear the franchise would relocate. Lou Schwechheimer, a veteran minor league executive, struck a deal with the city of Wichita to build a new stadium and bring the team to Kansas, filling the void left by the departure of the Wichita Wranglers (now the Northwest Arkansas Naturals) after the 2007 season.
Key Facts
- Played in New Orleans area from 1993-2019 as Zephyrs and Baby Cakes
- Served as Triple-A affiliate for multiple MLB organizations
- Rebranded from Zephyrs to Baby Cakes in 2017
- Lou Schwechheimer orchestrated the relocation to Wichita
2020–2022
A Rocky Arrival
COVID, reclassification, and new affiliations
The Wind Surge's arrival in Wichita was anything but smooth. The franchise was supposed to debut in 2020 as a Triple-A Marlins affiliate, but COVID-19 wiped out the entire season. The gleaming new Riverfront Stadium sat empty, a $75 million monument to delayed dreams.
When MiLB was reorganized in 2021, the Wind Surge were reclassified from Triple-A to Double-A and reassigned from the Miami Marlins to the Minnesota Twins. The changes were jarring—the franchise that had been promised Triple-A baseball instead got Double-A, with a completely different MLB parent club. Despite the downgrade in classification, the Twins affiliation would prove fruitful.
The team finally played its first game at Riverfront Stadium on May 11, 2021, and the community responded enthusiastically. The pipeline to Minnesota quickly bore fruit, with Royce Lewis, the Twins' No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, spending time in Wichita in 2021 before his MLB debut. The 2022 season saw Edouard Julien hit .300 with 18 home runs, earning Texas League All-Star honors before his own major league call-up.
Tragically, Lou Schwechheimer passed away in 2022, and his estate sold the franchise to Diamond Baseball Holdings later that year.
Key Facts
- 2020 inaugural season canceled due to COVID-19
- Reclassified from Triple-A to Double-A in 2021 reorganization
- Reassigned from Marlins to Twins
- Royce Lewis among first top prospects to develop in Wichita
2023–Present
Finding Its Footing
New ownership and a maturing pipeline
Under Diamond Baseball Holdings' ownership, the Wind Surge have worked to stabilize operations and deepen their connection to the Wichita community. Equity Bank Park (the stadium's new name following a 2023 naming rights deal that runs through 2039) has become one of the Texas League's most impressive venues, drawing fans with its riverside setting and modern amenities.
The Twins' prospect pipeline through Wichita has been remarkably productive. Brooks Lee, Jose Miranda, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Spencer Steer all spent meaningful time with the Wind Surge before their promotions. The franchise has established itself as a critical waypoint in Minnesota's development chain.
Nico Giarratano takes over as manager for 2026, replacing Brian Dinkelman, who was promoted to manage the Twins' Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Giarratano arrives in Wichita after leading the FCL Twins to a 39-20 record and a division title in 2025. The franchise continues to grow into its identity, with the combination of a world-class stadium, productive Twins affiliation, and a baseball-hungry market positioning the Wind Surge for sustained success.
Key Facts
- Stadium renamed Equity Bank Park in 2023 (deal runs through 2039)
- Brooks Lee, Jose Miranda, and Spencer Steer developed in Wichita
- Nico Giarratano named manager for 2026
- Brian Dinkelman promoted to manage Triple-A St. Paul Saints