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| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| Ceased | 2015 |
| No. of teams |
|
| Country | Venezuela |
| Last champion(s) | 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.
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.[citation needed] 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.[1] By 1999, the league had grown to 10 individual teams, and had nine teams as late as 2007.[1] The league reduced to four teams in 2012, played the next two seasons with five teams,[1] and was again reduced to four teams in 2015.[2] Political instability in the region led to more teams opting out before the 2016 season, resulting in the league shutting down.[2][3][4]
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 during this period were named for the city they operated in.
Source:[1]
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 Brewers San Francisco Giants Florida Marlins |
1997–1998 |
| VSL Maracay 1&2 | Maracay, Aragua | unknown | 1997 |
| VSL San Joaquín 1&2 | San Joaquín, Carabobo | Los Angeles Dodgers Houston Astros Montreal Expos |
1997–1998 |
| VSL Tronconero 1&2 | Tronconero, Carabobo | Minnesota Twins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies San Diego Padres |
2003–2004 |
| VSL Venoco 1&2 | Guacara, Carabobo | Houston Astros Baltimore Orioles |
2004 |
Source:[1]
Teams during this period were named for their affiliated MLB team(s).
| Team | MLB Affiliation | City | Year(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:[1]
Note that cooperative teams are linked to their respective teams (e.g. VSL Cubs/Twins links to VSL Cubs and VSL Twins).
| Team | MLB Affiliation | City | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSL Cubs/Twins | Chicago Cubs Minnesota Twins |
Maracay, Aragua | 2007 |
| VSL Devil Rays/Reds | Tampa Bay Devil Rays Cincinnati Reds |
Guacara, Carabobo | 2007 |
| VSL Marlins/Nationals | Florida Marlins Washington Nationals |
Maracay, Aragua | 2005 |
| VSL Orioles/White Sox | Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox |
Guacara, Carabobo | 2006 |
| VSL Red Sox/Padres | Boston Red Sox San Diego Padres |
Los Guayos, Carabobo | 2005 |
| VSL Tigers/Marlins | Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins |
Los Guayos, Carabobo | 2006 |
| VSL Twins/Blue Jays | Minnesota Twins Toronto Blue Jays |
Maracay, Aragua | 2006 |
Source:[1]
Source:[5]
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.
