NEWS

    As the number of collegiate summer leagues continues to grow and recruitment of players becomes more challenging, Strasburg Express officials have announced an innovative scouting approach.

    A nationwide network of 20 scouts, all with professional playing experience and most at the major league level, will promote both Strasburg Express and the Valley League as a high-quality setting for collegiate players to hone their skills and gain the attention of MLB scouts, says Duke Dickerson, Strasburg’s director of player development. Dickerson is a former Virginia Tech pitcher, Valley League alumnus and Toronto Blue Jay farmhand with coaching experience in the New York Yankees minor league system.

    He teamed with Parker Neal, Strasburg’s director of player personnel, to develop the network, which is directed by Charlie Hayes, a 15-year MLB veteran who now owns and operates a baseball academy in Texas. Two of Hayes’ students played for the 2014 Pan-American Games championship team while his son Tyree, also a member of the scouting network, was an eighth-round draft pick who played seven seasons of professional baseball.

    “The quality of play in the Valley League and the exposure to the Major League scouting community is a tremendous opportunity in the player's development process,” Hayes said. "Being involved with a league where a lot of guys are getting their names called on draft day is a big deal. This is what those of us running baseball schools are dedicated to accomplishing: getting them to the next level."

    MLB scouts have made Valley League games a regular summer stop — 20 scouts attended the 2014 all-star game — and the pay-off for VBL alumni has been consistent. Last year, approximately 48 former players were drafted (a record 79 were drafted in 2008). During the 2014 season, 27 former Valley Leaguers were on an active MLB roster.

    The Valley League, founded in 1897, is one of baseball’s oldest leagues. Since its transition from a professional league to an amateur NCAA-sanctioned wooden bat league, more than 1,000 players have made their way to careers in professional baseball.

    Along with the regular presence of MLB scouts, players also benefit from well-connected college coaches. Strasburg head coach Stephanos Stroop interned in advanced scouting with the Washington Nationals while earning a master’s in sports management at George Washington University, where he also coached for two seasons. Stroop is currently a pitching coach and recruiter at St. Catharine College in Kentucky.

    Strasburg’s  new scouting network (see below for a complete listing) includes several well-known veteran baseball hands, such as Mike Lord, former Padres coach and Red Sox scout ( in 2007, he signed Aruba native Xander Bogaerts).

    Fans will also note World Series heroes Jim Leyritz, of the New York Yankees, and Willie Mays Aikens, of the Kansas City Royals, on the list. Lefty ace Chris Hammond now runs a Christian-based youth baseball non-profit in Alabama. Marquis Grissom, 1996 Gold Glove outfielder while with the Atlanta Braves and former base coach of the Washington Nationals, has focused his efforts on underserved youth in Atlanta, Georgia.

    In Virginia, a former Virginia Tech coach and Valley League alumnus is providing his services. Bob Humphreys, a member of the 1964 series-winning St. Louis Cardinals, has held a variety of positions in professional baseball from an AAA field manager with the Toronto Blue Jays to the director of player development with the Milwaukee Brewers and Cardinals.

    Each scout brings a wide variety of life experiences to his mentoring role. While many players hope to reach the major leagues, “the reality is that most will not,” Hayes said. “Having these guys offer a clear perspective provides incredible balance to what we are trying accomplish as an organization.”

    The scouting network is envisioned to benefit teams and players in the Valley League, says Strasburg general manager Jay Neal. Once the Express roster is filled, players will be referred to other VBL teams. VBL managers and coaches are encouraged to pass on information about promising prospects to the scouting network.

    “We will also make sure that the scouts are aware of players in the league that coaches think have what it takes, and they can in turn pass that information up to their personal MLB connections,” said Neal.

    All scouts are volunteers who are “working for the love of the game and a chance to make a difference in the lives of young players,” Dickerson said. “The world of baseball is akin to a fraternity, always has been and always will be. Former players love to help the younger guys. The experience they garnered from their development process and playing days is priceless.”

 

Southeast

Mike Cameron: Drafted 1991 (18th round) out of high school (LaGrange, Georgia) by the Chicago White Sox. Played 16 years for the White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox. Owner of Mike Cameron Baseball Academy, McDonough, Georgia. 

Marquis Grissom: Florida A&M University, drafted 1988 (third round). Played 17 years for the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants. Founder of the Marquis Grissom Baseball Association, based in Mableton, Georgia, which offers mentoring and baseball opportunities to underserved youth.

Chris Hammond: University of Alabama, Birmingham, drafted in 1986 (6th round), played 16 years for Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres. Founder of Chris Hammond Youth Foundation, Wedowee, Alabama, which supports the construction and maintenance of ballfields in rural communities.

 

South Atlantic

Bob Humphreys: Hampden-Sydney College, drafted 1958 as a free agent. Played nine years with Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Senators, and Milwaukee Brewers.

Orvin “Tinker” Kiser: Virginia Tech, signed as a free agent. Played two years in the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays organization. Co-owns and operates Homerun Club in Stuarts Draft, Virginia.
 
Denny Walling: Clemson University, drafted 1975 (first round, first pick). Played 18 years with the Oakland A's, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Hitting coach for the A’s, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles. Co-owns and operates Homerun Club in Stuarts Draft, Virginia.

 

Midwest

Willie Aikens: South Carolina State, drafted 1975 (first round, second pick overall), played eight years for California Angels, Kansas Royals and Toronto Blue Jays.

Dan Briggs: UC Berkeley, drafted 1970 (second round), played seven years for California Angels, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs. Co-owner of Big League Baseball School in Worthington, Ohio.

John Pacella: drafted 1974 (fourth round) out of high school (Oakdale, New York), played six years for New York Mets, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. Co-owner of Big League Baseball School in Worthington, Ohio.

Marvin Freeman: Jackson State University, drafted 1984 (second round), played 10 years for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox. Instructor at Diamond Sports Academy, Mokena, Illinois.

Ryan Thompson: drafted out of high school (Rock Hall, Maryland) in 1987 (13th round) by the Toronto Blue Jays. Played nine years for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Florida Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers.

 

New England

Roger Dean: Eastern Connecticut State University, drafted 1984, two years with the Detroit Tigers.

 

Mid-Atlantic

Shaun Babula: Philadelphia University, drafted 1999 (16th round) by the Baltimore Orioles. Played 10 years with the Orioles. Coach at Penn State-Abington University.

 

South

Floyd Youmans: drafted 1982 (second round) out of high school (Fontana, California), played five years for the Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies.

 

Texas

Charlie Hayes: drafted 1983 (fourth round) out of high school (Hattiesburg, Mississippi), played 14 years for San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Colorado Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros.

Tyree Hayes: drafted 2006 (eighth round) out of high school (Tomball, Texas), played six years for the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds organization.
 

Northern California

Matt Walbeck: drafted 1987 (eighth round) out of high school (Sacramento, California), played 11 years for the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers. Owns the Matt Walbeck Baseball Academy, Sacramento, California.

 

Southern California

Jim Leyritz: University of Kentucky, drafted 1985 as a free agent, played 11 years for the New York Yankees, Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

Arizona

Kelly Stinnett: Seminole State College, drafted 1989 (11th round), played 14 years for New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. Founder of Kelly Stinnett Baseball and Grinders Sports.

 

Florida

Mike Lord: UC Riverside, coached at Saddleback College, Westmont College, Claremont College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, San Diego Christian College and Trevecca Nazarene University. Nine years as the San Diego Padres batting practice pitcher. Three years as a scout for the Boston Red Sox.