Minor League Baseball officials have announced the return of the historical names for the 11 leagues that make up the player development system for Major League Baseball teams. The move means that Wichita’s baseball team will again play in the Texas League.
The Wichita Wind Surge will play as a Double-A team in the Texas League, along with the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Arkansas Travelers, Corpus Christi Hooks, Frisco Roughriders, Midland RockHounds, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, San Antonio Missions, Springfield Cardinals, and the Tulsa Drillers.
Wichita teams were involved in the Texas League from 1987 to 2007, playing first as the Pilots, then as the Wranglers before the team left for Springdale, Arkansas. The former Wranglers now play as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Wind Surge lost to the Naturals in the league championship series last year.
During the 2021 season, the leagues had regional names such as Triple A East while the rights to the use of the historic names were in the process of being acquired by Major League Baseball officials.
