Last spring, the Wichita Wind Surge were supposed to be a Triple AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins and start their first season last March in the National League East in a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium.

Needing to open three spots at the Triple-A level, the MLB made the move a week ago to send the Wind Surge to the Double-A Texas League, which was necessary to make the MILB work smoothly for future minor league seasons.

The Wind Surge will now join the Double AA program with the Minnesota Twins. Unfortunately, there will not be one hundred percent assurance on whether or not this will actually happen and their first inaugural season will even be played.

Jared Forma, general manager for the Wind Surge, want to assure the Wichita community that the players will be in one of the marquee stadiums in Minor League baseball, no matter what happens in 2021.

“Regardless of what transpires, we do know that the wind Surge players will be playing in one of the marquee stadiums in all of Minor League baseball, regardless of the level of play,” said Forma.

While the Wind Surge organization is unsure of what will happen in the future as a whole, they do trust Major League Baseball as it is their decision on what team they will be signing with to build their baseball program of the future.

With a three-decade lease signed with Wichita for the property and land, the future still looks hopeful for some kind of professional baseball in the city’s future.

“Also, the Wind Surge “are here for the long haul…we have a 30 year lease with the city and none of these changes will affect that. Another small positive from what I have heard is that once we do get assigned a Major League affiliate that the partnership with that Major League will be for a minimum of 10 years preventing any more changes in the short-term and allowing Wind Surge fans to really get to know the players within that teams minor league system,” said Forma.

The Wind Surge are just one of 160+ minor league baseball clubs in the United States that have been affected by COVID-19. This caused seasons to be cancelled, renovations to be postponed and more safety measures to be taken so a 2021 season could take place.

“I can honestly tell you that we remain in a wait and see manner like the other 160+ Minor League Teams in regards to who our Major League Affiliate will be and what level we will play at,” Forma said. “Unfortunately all of the Minor League Teams are at the mercy of what the Major League Baseball will decide.”

While an actual 2021 season schedule is still on the horizon, the new stadium is up, ready and ensures a 21st century fan experience when Wichitans are able to attend baseball games again.

“Wind Surge fans will experience the ultimate fan and stadium experience each and every day…none of these changes will effect your ballpark experience,” Forma said.

Forma also believes that the level of competition at the Double A level in Wichita could be just as elite as the Triple A system, which prepares players for the big show, the MLB.

“I am very confident, regardless of the level that we will see some amazing baseball. Sometimes Double-A teams keep the top prospects a lot longer than the Triple-A teams,” Forma said. “I am not the judge and jury of which level actually has the better baseball as there are pros to both but I do know the quality of baseball will be excellent!”