Venezuelan Summer League Explained

Pixels:125px
Sport:Baseball
Country:Venezuela
Champion:VSL Tigers (2015)

The Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) was a professional baseball sports league that operated in Venezuela from 1997 to 2015, primarily in the state of Carabobo. Teams in the league served as academies for Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations, and were classified at the Rookie League level within Minor League Baseball.

History

The VSL was created in 1997 as an alternative to the Dominican Summer League (DSL) to improve the development of young prospects from Venezuela in their early years in organized baseball. Besides Carabobo, the states of Aragua, Lara and Yaracuy were represented in the league.

Each team had a roster limit of 35 active players, at least 10 of which had to be pitchers. No player on the active list could have more than four years of minor league service. There were no age limits. The league was closed to all MLB Draft eligible players; that is, players from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Exceptions were made for two players from Puerto Rico. In addition to Venezuela, players in the league came from Argentina, Colombia, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Sint Maarten.

The regular season champion and runner-up played a best-of-three-games playoff series for the league championship.

The league had six squads in its first season, 1997, via three teams fielding split-squads. By 1999, the league had grown to 10 individual teams, and had nine teams as late as 2007. The league reduced to four teams in 2012, played the next two seasons with five teams, and was again reduced to four teams in 2015. Political instability in the region led to more teams opting out before the 2016 season, resulting in the league shutting down.[1] [2] [3]

After the suspension of the VSL, the semi-pro Bolivarian League remained as the only summer league in Venezuela (though that would cease operations in 2019). Venezuela would go without a fully-professional summer baseball league until 2021, when the Venezuelan Major League was established.

Teams

1997–2004

Teams during this period were named for the city they operated in.

Single-squad teams

Team City MLB Affiliation Year(s)
VSL Aguirre
VSL Cabudare
VSL Cagua
VSL CaroraCarora, Lara2001–2002
VSL Chino CanónicoBarquisimeto, Lara1999
2000
VSL Chivacoa
VSL Ciudad AlianzaLos Guayos, Carabobo
VSL CocoroteFlorida Marlins & Toronto Blue Jays2003
VSL La Pradera
VSL La VictoriaLa Victoria, Aragua1999
2000
VSL Mariara2001
2002–2003
VSL MirandaMiranda, CaraboboTampa Bay Devil Rays & Arizona Diamondbacks & Chicago White Sox1998
VSL MontalbánMontalbán, CaraboboPittsburgh Pirates & Colorado Rockies & Minnesota Twins1998
VSL Puerto Cabello2002
VSL San FelipeSan Felipe, Yaracuy1999–2000
2001–2003
VSL San JoaquínSan Joaquín, Carabobo
VSL Venoco2000
2001–2003
VSL Universidad de CaraboboMaracay, Aragua
VSL Yaritagua2003
Source:

Split-squad teams

These clubs operated as split-squads, fielding two teams denoted by numbers (e.g. VSL Venoco 1 and VSL Venoco 2).

Team City MLB Affiliation Year(s)
VSL Guacara 1&21997–1998
VSL Maracay 1&2unknown1997
VSL San Joaquín 1&2San Joaquín, CaraboboLos Angeles Dodgers
Houston Astros
Montreal Expos
1997–1998
VSL Tronconero 1&2Tronconero, Carabobo2003–2004
VSL Venoco 1&2Guacara, CaraboboHouston Astros
Baltimore Orioles
2004
Source:

2005–2015

Teams during this period were named for their affiliated MLB team(s).

Single-affiliate teams

TeamMLB AffiliationCityYear(s)
VSL Astros2005–2008
VSL Cardinals2005–2010
VSL CubsChicago CubsLos Guayos, Carabobo2013–2015
VSL Mariners2005–2014
VSL Mets2005–2009
VSL Orioles2005
VSL PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesTronconero, Carabobo2005–2015
VSL Pirates2005–2011
VSL RaysGuacara, Carabobo2008–2015
VSL Reds2005–2006, 2010–2011
VSL TigersDetroit TigersLos Guayos, Carabobo2007–2015
Source:

Cooperative teams

Note that cooperative teams are linked to their respective teams (e.g. VSL Cubs/Twins links to VSL Cubs and VSL Twins).

TeamMLB AffiliationCityYear(s)
VSL Cubs/Twins2007
VSL Devil Rays/Reds2007
VSL Marlins/NationalsFlorida Marlins
Washington Nationals
2005
VSL Orioles/White Sox2006
VSL Red Sox/Padres2005
VSL Tigers/MarlinsDetroit Tigers
Florida Marlins
Los Guayos, Carabobo2006
VSL Twins/Blue JaysMinnesota Twins
Toronto Blue Jays
Maracay, Aragua2006
Source:[4]

League champions

Source:[5]

MLB alumni

VSL players who have gone on to make MLB appearances include:

Note: team affiliations reflect a player's organization while in the VSL; the player may have reached MLB with a different franchise.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Venezuelan Summer League closes doors . Danny . Wild . MiLB.com . January 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160325234654/http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160121&content_id=162470356&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb . March 25, 2016 . Wayback Machine.
  2. Web site: Venezuelan Summer League Shuts Down . Ben . Badler . Baseball America . January 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131220957/www.baseballamerica.com/minors/venezuelan-summer-league-shuts/ . January 31, 2016 . Wayback Machine.
  3. Web site: Tigers bow out of Venezuelan Summer League . Chris . McCosky . . January 24, 2016.
  4. Web site: Venezuelan Summer League (Foreign Rookie) Encyclopedia and History . . March 13, 2021.
  5. Web site: VSL playoffs review: Tigers capture title . Sam . Dystra . MiLB.com . October 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151011013735/http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20141016&content_id=98732034&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb . October 11, 2015 . Wayback Machine.