Venezuelan Summer League

The Venezuelan Summer League was a rookie-level league which operates in Estado Aragua and Estado Carabobo in northern Venezuela. The league consisted of the academy teams of Major League Baseball organizations. The number of teams in the league varied considerably over the years; teams may have players from any Latin American country except for the Dominican Republic, which has its own league the Dominican Summer League, and Puerto Rico, whose players are eligible to be drafted by MLB clubs.

The VSL was founded in 1997 following the success of the Dominican Summer League. However, its future became very clouded in 2012 when it was reduced to four teams, many major league clubs having pulled up stakes because of the deteriorating economic and safety situation in Venezuela. This was in spite of the fact that the country was producing more major league talent than ever. After the Chicago Cubs opted not to field a team in 2016, leaving the circuit with only 3 teams, the league was shut down [1].

Baseball in Venezuela goes back much further in winter league play with the Venezuelan League.

Cities Represented

(1997-2015)

• Aguirre, Carabobo - Aguirre (VSL) 2001-2004; VSL Mariners 2005-2014
• Barquisimeto, Lara - Chino Canonico (VSL) 1999-2000
• Cabudare, Lara - Cabudare (VSL) 1999-2002
• Cagua, Aragua - Cagua (VSL) 1999-2004; VSL Reds 2005-2006, 2010-2011
• Carora, Lara - Carora (VSL) 2001-2002
• Chivacoa, Yaracuy - Chivacoa (VSL) 1999-2003
• Cocorote, Yaracuy - Cocorote (VSL) 2003
• Guacara, Carabobo - Guacara 1 (VSL) 1997-1998; Guacara 2 (VSL) 1997-1998; Venoco (VSL) 2000-2003; Venoco 1 (VSL) 2004; Venoco 2 (VSL) 2004; VSL Astros 2005-2008; VSL Orioles 2005; VSL Orioles/White Sox 2006; VSL Devil Rays/Reds 2007; VSL Rays 2008-2015
• La Pradera, Merida - La Pradera (VSL) 1998-2001
• La Victoria, Aragua - La Victoria (VSL) 1999-2000
• Los Guayos, Carabobo - Ciudad Alianza (VSL) 1999, 2001-2002, 2004; VSL Red Sox/Padres 2005; VSL Marlins/Tigers 2006; VSL Tigers 2007-2015; VSL Cubs 2013-2015
• Maracay, Aragua - Maracay 1 (VSL) 1997; Maracay 2 (VSL) 1997; Universidad de Carabobo (VSL) 1998-2002, 2004; VSL Marlins/Nationals 2005; VSL Twins/Blue Jays 2006; VSL Cubs/Twins 2007
• Mariara, Carabobo - Mariara (VSL) 2001-2003
• Miranda - Miranda (VSL) 1998
• Montalban, Carabobo - Montalban (VSL) 1998
• Puerto Cabello, Carabobo - Puerto Cabello (VSL) 2002
• San Felipe, Yaracuy - San Felipe (VSL) 1999-2003
• San Joaquin, Carabobo - San Joaquin 1 (VSL) 1997-1998; San Joaquin 2 (VSL) 1997-1998; San Joaquin (VSL) 1999-2002, 2004; VSL Pirates 2005-2011; VSL Cardinals 2006-2010
• Tronconero, Carabobo - Tronconero 1 (VSL) 2003-2004; Tronconero 2 (VSL) 2003-2004; VSL Mets 2005-2009; VSL Phillies 2005-2015
• Yaritagua, Yaracuy - Yaritagua (VSL) 2003