Manager of the Year Ramon Borrego is back to coach Wichita Wind Surge for 2022 season

After taking the Wichita Wind Surge to the doorstep of a championship in the organization’s first season, Ramon Borrego will return to manage the minor league baseball team for the 2022 season, the club announced Wednesday morning.

Borrego was named the Double-A Central Manager of the Year after leading the Wind Surge to a 69-51 season, the best record in the league, before ultimately falling in the postseason championship series. The longtime manager in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system — he’s entering his 13th season in the organization — has led his last four teams to the playoffs.

“We are thrilled to have Ramon back in Wichita and look forward to the season,” said Wind Surge CEO Jordan Kobritz in a statement. “Ramon and his staff did a fantastic job developing players last season, with two Wind Surge players promoted to the majors and several others to Triple-A.”

The Wind Surge will feature a new hitting coach (Derek Shomon) and two new pitching coaches (Peter Larson and Dan Urbina), while Borrego and catching coach Joe Mangiameli are holdovers from last season.

Shomon, entering his second season with the Twins, and Larson, entering his fourth season with the Twins, both received a promotion after serving in the same capacity last season for the Single-A Fort Myers team. Urbina, also entering his fourth season with the Twins, led the pitching staff for the organization’s Florida Complex League team in 2021.

The staff is rounded out by athletic trainers Tyler Blair and Taylor Crawford and strength and conditioning coach John Gentile.

The Wind Surge begin their second season on April 8 at Riverfront Stadium against the Tulsa Drillers.