Venezuelan Summer League

The Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) was a professional baseball 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.

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 Aguirre, Carabobo VSL Cabudare Cabudare, Lara VSL Cagua Cagua, Aragua VSL Carora Carora, Lara St. Louis Cardinals & Toronto Blue Jays 2001–2002 VSL Chino Canónico Barquisimeto, Lara 19992000 VSL Chivacoa Chivacoa, Yaracuy VSL Ciudad Alianza Los Guayos, Carabobo VSL Cocorote Cocorote, Yaracuy Florida Marlins & Toronto Blue Jays 2003 VSL La Pradera La Pradera, Mérida VSL La Victoria La Victoria, Aragua 19992000 VSL Mariara Mariara, Carabobo 20012002–2003 VSL Miranda Miranda, Carabobo Tampa Bay Devil Rays & Arizona Diamondbacks & Chicago White Sox 1998 VSL Montalbán Montalbán, Carabobo Pittsburgh Pirates & Colorado Rockies & Minnesota Twins 1998 VSL Puerto Cabello Puerto Cabello, Carabobo Chicago Cubs & Colorado Rockies 2002 VSL San Felipe San Felipe, Yaracuy 1999–20002001–2003 VSL San Joaquín San Joaquín, Carabobo VSL Venoco Guacara, Carabobo 20002001–2003 VSL Universidad de Carabobo Maracay, Aragua VSL Yaritagua Yaritagua, Yaracuy Baltimore Orioles 2003 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&2 Guacara, Carabobo Milwaukee BrewersSan Francisco GiantsFlorida Marlins 1997–1998 VSL Maracay 1&2 Maracay, Aragua unknown 1997 VSL San Joaquín 1&2 San Joaquín, Carabobo Los Angeles DodgersHouston AstrosMontreal Expos 1997–1998 VSL Tronconero 1&2 Tronconero, Carabobo Minnesota TwinsNew York MetsPhiladelphia PhilliesSan Diego Padres 2003–2004 VSL Venoco 1&2 Guacara, Carabobo Houston AstrosBaltimore Orioles 2004 Source:

2005–2015 Teams during this period were named for their affiliated MLB team(s).

Single-affiliate teams TeamMLB AffiliationCityYear(s) VSL Astros Houston Astros Guacara, Carabobo 2005–2008 VSL Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals San Joaquín, Carabobo 2005–2010 VSL Cubs Chicago Cubs Los Guayos, Carabobo 2013–2015 VSL Mariners Seattle Mariners Aguirre, Carabobo 2005–2014 VSL Mets New York Mets Tronconero, Carabobo 2005–2009 VSL Orioles Baltimore Orioles Guacara, Carabobo 2005 VSL Phillies Philadelphia Phillies Tronconero, Carabobo 2005–2015 VSL Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates San Joaquín, Carabobo 2005–2011 VSL Rays Tampa Bay Rays Guacara, Carabobo 2008–2015 VSL Reds Cincinnati Reds Cagua, Aragua 2005–2006, 2010–2011 VSL Tigers Detroit Tigers Los Guayos, Carabobo 2007–2015 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/Twins Chicago CubsMinnesota Twins Maracay, Aragua 2007 VSL Devil Rays/Reds Tampa Bay Devil RaysCincinnati Reds Guacara, Carabobo 2007 VSL Marlins/Nationals Florida MarlinsWashington Nationals Maracay, Aragua 2005 VSL Orioles/White Sox Baltimore OriolesChicago White Sox Guacara, Carabobo 2006 VSL Red Sox/Padres Boston Red SoxSan Diego Padres Los Guayos, Carabobo 2005 VSL Tigers/Marlins Detroit TigersFlorida Marlins Los Guayos, Carabobo 2006 VSL Twins/Blue Jays Minnesota TwinsToronto Blue Jays Maracay, Aragua 2006 Source:

League champions

1997 – VSL Maracay 2 1998 – VSL Guacara 1 1999 – VSL Chino Canónico 2000 – VSL San Felipe 2001 – VSL Venoco 2002 – VSL Aguirre 2003 – VSL San Felipe 2004 – VSL Tronconero 2 2005 – VSL Astros 2006 – VSL Phillies 2007 – VSL Astros 2008 – VSL Pirates 2009 – VSL Rays 2010 – VSL Pirates 2011 – VSL Rays 2012 – VSL Phillies 2013 – VSL Mariners 2014 – VSL Tigers 2015 – VSL Tigers

Source:

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

Jose Altuve (HOU) José Alvarado (TBR) Wladimir Balentien (SEA) Asdrúbal Cabrera (SEA) Ramón Cabrera (PIT) Ezequiel Carrera (TOR) Yonny Chirinos (TBR) Argenis Díaz (BOS) Elías Díaz (PIT) Félix Doubront (BOS) Luis Durango (SDP) Sergio Escalona (PHI) Eduardo Escobar (CWS) Víctor Gárate (HOU) Avisail García (DET) Severino González (PHI) Mayckol Guaipe (SEA) Jesús Guzmán (SEA) César Hernández (PHI) Oscar Hernández (TBR) Dilson Herrera (PIT) Edgar Ibarra (MIN) Gregory Infante (CWS) Dixon Machado (DET) Jean Machi (PHI) Germán Márquez (TBR) David Martínez (HOU) Yoervis Medina (SEA) Diego Moreno (PIT) Omar Narváez (TBR) Ángel Nesbitt (DET) Lester Oliveros (DET) José Ortega (DET) Hernán Pérez (DET) Erasmo Ramírez (SEA) Wilking Rodríguez (TBR) Bruce Rondón (DET) Josmil Pinto (MIN) José Quintana (NYM) J. C. Ramírez (SEA) Felipe Rivero (TBR) Miguel Rojas (CIN) Jorge Rondón (STL) Rómulo Sánchez (PIT) Eduardo Sánchez (STL) Eugenio Suárez (DET) Rubén Tejada (NYM) Ronald Torreyes (CIN) Wilfredo Tovar (NYM) Luis Valbuena (SEA) Felipe Vázquez (TBR) Brayan Villarreal (DET)

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

Venezuelan Summer League

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