The No. 1 Twins’ prospect headlines Opening Day roster for Wichita Wind Surge baseball

The top prospect in the Minnesota Twins’ organization will begin the season in Wichita, playing at the Double-A level for the Wind Surge.

Brooks Lee, a 22-year-old shortstop who was the No. 8 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, returns to Wichita after he was a late arrival to the team’s Texas League playoff run. He even delivered a team-high three hits in the Wind Surge’s 17-1 rout of Tulsa in the divisional series.

Splitting time between three levels, the Cal Poly product finished his rookie season with a .303 batting average, .388 on-base percentage and .451 slugging percentage with 17 runs scored, 15 RBI and four home runs in 122 at bats stretched across 31 games.

Lee headlined the roster announcement for the Wind Surge on Sunday, which included 28 players — 15 pitchers and 13 position players — for the 2023 season. Wichita opens the season on Thursday with a 3-game road swing against the Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals.

Ramon Borrego, the 2021 Texas League Manager of the year, is back for his third season at the helm of the Wind Surge, who will play their first home game at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Riverfront Stadium.

Opening night against the Kansas City Royals’ affiliate will feature a scarf and magnet schedule giveaway, $1 hot dogs and post-game fireworks.

Wichita returns 17 players from last year’s club, including 26-year-old left-handed pitcher Kody Funderburk, a Texas League All-Star who compiled a 10-5 record with a 2.94 ERA last season, and 23-year-old David Festa, a 6-foot-6 starting pitcher who is rated as the 11th-best prospect for the Twins.