The Valley Baseball League is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that directs and coordinates 11 teams in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
Founded in 1897, the Valley Baseball League provides a place in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley for top college players to play wood-bat baseball against top-level competition in a festive community atmosphere. The Valley League is one of a small number of collegiate leagues supported and partially funded by Major League Baseball and one of 14 leagues affiliated with the NACSB—an alliance of college summer wooden bat leagues that follows NCAA rules. The VBL has been named one of the top leagues in the country by Baseball America.
With hundreds of player inquiries each season, the VBL has roster spots for 336 top collegiate baseball players. With limited roster opportunities, it is a privilege to play in the league. The Valley League has produced well over 1,000 professional baseball players, including a record 79 former players drafted in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. In any current season, there will be 30-50 VBL alumni playing in the Major Leagues.
Much like the college recruiting process, our coaches and GM’s decide who plays on each team. With Major League Baseball's support, it is also each team’s responsibility to make sure signed players are potential professional prospects. The Valley League's role in player recruitment is to help get information to our teams about players and to ensure eligibility by managing the necessary paperwork.
The Valley League fields inquiries about recruitment leading up to the summer season. To be considered as a potential player in the Valley Baseball League, your eligibility classification must be a rising sophomore, rising junior, or rising senior. For the best opportunity, follow these steps prior to October 1 (much earlier if possible) before the year/summer you want to play:
- Have your college coach contact a team with information about your playing ability, including recent stats, 60-yd-dash times, pop-time, arm strength, etc.
- If a VBL coach/GM is interested and has a roster spot available, you will be contacted.
- If you don’t hear from one of the teams in a timely manner, they likely do not have a roster spot available.
- There is a $200 League Registration Fee payable to the team to which the player has contracted.
Thank you for your interest in the Valley Baseball League!
