Venezuelan Summer League
The Venezuelan Summer League 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 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 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. 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
Source:Split-squad teams
These clubs operated as split-squads, fielding two teams denoted by numbers.| Team | City | MLB Affiliation | Year |
| 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:
2005–2015
Teams during this period were named for their affiliated MLB team.Single-affiliate teams
Source:Cooperative teams
Note that cooperative teams are linked to their respective teams.| Team | MLB Affiliation | City | Year |
| 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:
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
MLB alumni
VSL players who have gone on to make MLB appearances include:- Jose Altuve
- José Alvarado
- Wladimir Balentien
- Asdrúbal Cabrera
- Ramón Cabrera
- Ezequiel Carrera
- Yonny Chirinos
- Argenis Díaz
- Elías Díaz
- Félix Doubront
- Luis Durango
- Sergio Escalona
- Eduardo Escobar
- Víctor Gárate
- Avisail García
- Severino González
- Mayckol Guaipe
- Jesús Guzmán
- César Hernández
- Oscar Hernández
- Dilson Herrera
- Edgar Ibarra
- Gregory Infante
- Dixon Machado
- Jean Machi
- Germán Márquez
- David Martínez
- Yoervis Medina
- Diego Moreno
- Omar Narváez
- Ángel Nesbitt
- Lester Oliveros
- José Ortega
- Hernán Pérez
- Erasmo Ramírez
- Wilking Rodríguez
- Bruce Rondón
- Josmil Pinto
- José Quintana
- J. C. Ramírez
- Felipe Rivero
- Miguel Rojas
- Jorge Rondón
- Rómulo Sánchez
- Eduardo Sánchez
- Eugenio Suárez
- Rubén Tejada
- Ronald Torreyes
- Wilfredo Tovar
- Luis Valbuena
- Felipe Vázquez
- Brayan Villarreal