Wichita Wind Surge Opening Day Roster Preview

[Seth Stohs]

Today the Wichita Wind Surge announced their first Opening Day roster as an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Find out which prospects will be joining the celebration as Wichita opens its new state-of-the-art stadium.The Wichita Wind Surge will open up its first season as a Twins affiliate on Tuesday. Let’s take a look at their Opening Day roster, starting with the coaching staff.

 

The Coaching Staff:

Manager: Ramon Borrego

Pitching Coaches: Luis Ramirez, Virgil Vasquez

Hitting Coach: Ryan Smith

Coach: Joe Mangiameli

 

The Pitchers

 

LHP: Josh Mitchell (26), Jovani Moran (24), Zach Neff (25), Bryan Sammons (26),

 

RHP: Yennier Cano (27), Dakota Chalmers (24), Calvin Faucher (25), Tom Hackimer (26), Hector Lujan (26), Ryan Mason (26), Alex Phillips (26), Cole Sands (23), Austin Schulfer (25), Josh Winder (24).

 

Winder and Sands are two exciting members of the Twins 2018 draft. Both will start, as will Sammons and Chalmers. Mitchell came to the Twins in the minor league Rule 5 draft from the Royals. The southpaw hit 100 mph this winter. Moran and Neff have both been impressive at times in their career, including strong AFL performances. Cano is from Cuba and needs innings. Hackimer and Mason were in spring training and at the alternate site until recently. Schulfer has greatly increased his velocity since being drafted.

 

The Catchers

 

Roy Morales (25), Nick Garland (26), David Banuelos (24).

 

Banuelos had a strong showing in spring training as a non-roster invite. Morales is from Puerto Rico. Originally signed with the Marlines, but he has spent the past two seasons in the independent American Association. He played for Winnipeg and Sioux Falls in 2020. Garland had signed with the Twins in 2020 and is back this year. He spent some time with the Pirates organization but has played in the independent Frontier and Atlantic Leagues.

 

 

The Infielders

 

Andrew Bechtold (25), Jose Miranda (22), Peter Mooney (30), Jermaine Palacios (24), Damek Tomscha (29).

 

Miranda was part of that vaunted 2016 top four draft pick group, and he had a great winter in Puerto Rico and performed well in spring training. Bechtold was the team’s fifth round pick in 2017 and spent 2019 in Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. Yes, Jermaine Palacios is back in the organization. Remember, he became a big prospect and was dealt to Tampa Bay for Jake Odorizzi. Didn’t pan out for him there, but he re-signed with the Twins this spring. Mooney is a minor league veteran who signed with the Twins before the 2019 season as well. Tomscha is another veteran with ties to the independent leagues. The Iowa native spent 2020 in Sioux Falls before playing in Australia this winter.

 

 

The Outfielders

 

Gilberto Celestino (22), Mark Contreras (26), Ernie de la Trinidad (25), Jimmy Kerrigan (27), Aaron Whitefield (24),

 

We saw the debut of speedy Australia Aaron Whitefield to start the 2020 season. Celestino is on the 40-man roster and we saw his tremendous talent in the outfield and with his bat this spring. Contreras won a minor league Gold Glove for his work in 2019. De La Trinidad split 2019 between Ft. Myers and Pensacola. Kerrigan hit for power and both Pensacola and Rochester in 2019.

 

Injured List

 

RHP Jordan Balazovic

RHP Adam Bray

RHP Chris Vallimont

SS Royce Lewis

 

 

Check out these Wichita Wind Surge sites and social media:

 

Team Website

Team Store

Wind Surge on Twitter

Wind Surge on Facebook

Wind Surge on Instagram

Wind Surge on YouTube

 

Surge Cast: Episode 1

 

Minnesota Twins 2021 Top 20 Prospects with the Wind Surge

 

19. José Miranda, 3B/2B:

15. Cole Sands, RHP:

11. Gilberto Celestino, OF:

 

Click here to view the article

[rdehring]

See this roster is 27, so same question as with the Miracle.

 

Like I suspect many of us, did a double take when I saw the name Jermaine Polacios. Guess the Twins got the best end of that deal. 

 

A bit surprised to see Celestino in AA and not in St. Paul. To tell the truth, I had expected Rortvedt to begin his year at AA. That sure ain't happening, at least not for opening day.

 

I don't know about others, but I know very little about most of the coaches for both the Mighty Mussels and Wichita. Perhaps that would be a good report(s) for you to put up over the next few weeks.

[Danchat]

Hmmm, there's less prospects here than I expected. Good to see Sands and Winder here.

 

Celestino struggled a lot at A+ and had a good month or two in 2019, so it's not surprising to see him here. He has a ways to go.

[Seth Stohs]

Just got the IL list and added it to the article above. 

 

Balazovic

Bray

Lewis

Vallimont

 

Balazovic has an oblique injury, so they're starting him slowly. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

See this roster is 27, so same question as with the Miracle.

 

Like I suspect many of us, did a double take when I saw the name Jermaine Polacios. Guess the Twins got the best end of that deal. 

 

A bit surprised to see Celestino in AA and not in St. Paul. To tell the truth, I had expected Rortvedt to begin his year at AA. That sure ain't happening, at least not for opening day.

 

I don't know about others, but I know very little about most of the coaches for both the Mighty Mussels and Wichita. Perhaps that would be a good report(s) for you to put up over the next few weeks.

 

In my projections, I had Celestino teetering between Cedar Rapids and Wichita. 

 

I think at some point we may see Rortvedt head to AA, but for right now, he's getting a nice opportunity. 

[DocBauer]

I know I stated previously I'm over the ages of some guys, but it is becoming glaringly obvious that advancing prospects for EVERY organization...whether they become stars, fixtures or role players...will be making their debuts a good year to year plus later than they probably would have originally due to the lost 2020 season.

 

Catcher and infield look a little light to me here.

 

A little surprised Kerrigan isn't at AAA.

 

That 4 man IL looks ugly. We know Lewis is out for the year, but really hope the others are healthy and ready to go soon, especially Balazovic and Valimont.

[Seth Stohs]

Learned also this afternoon that minor league Rule 5 pick Jhonleider Salinas will also be on the Wichita roster. Like Luis Rijo, visa issues made him late for camp. 

[darwin22]

Nice to see this information Seth as it gives me a needed DIVERSION from the dumpster fire playing at Target Field.  

 

Especially interesting for me (living in KC area) as I'll be able to check out the Surge on their 1st road trip next week as they travel to Springfield, MO to open up against the Cardinals AA squad.  Have tickets for Wed and TH night.  Although disappointing to learn that I'll miss seeing Balazovic (IL), I'm hoping to see either Winder or Sands pitch game 3 of their series Wed. night and possibly Chalmers on TH.  

 

Also looking forward to seeing how Celestino, Miranda and others look to start the season.  

 

Are there any other Twins fans planning on attending this series in Springfield---May 4-9th.  If so, respond back as it would be fun to meet some fans there.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Nice to see this information Seth as it gives me a needed DIVERSION from the dumpster fire playing at Target Field.  

 

Especially interesting for me (living in KC area) as I'll be able to check out the Surge on their 1st road trip next week as they travel to Springfield, MO to open up against the Cardinals AA squad.  Have tickets for Wed and TH night.  Although disappointing to learn that I'll miss seeing Balazovic (IL), I'm hoping to see either Winder or Sands pitch game 3 of their series Wed. night and possibly Chalmers on TH.  

 

Also looking forward to seeing how Celestino, Miranda and others look to start the season.  

 

Are there any other Twins fans planning on attending this series in Springfield---May 4-9th.  If so, respond back as it would be fun to meet some fans there.

 

I'm heading to Cedar Rapids for their opening series next week. looking forward to that! I'm hoping to get to Wichita once this summer sometime. I did look at how far Springfield is from Cedar Rapids... but the answer was too far. 

 

Be sure to send us some updates on the games you see in the comments of those minor league reports those nights. And if you get pictures, let us know!