Your 2015 VSL Cubs!
The Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) begins play tomorrow (Monday 5/18), and the Cubs are one of only four MLB organizations fielding a team in the VSL this year.
As recently as 2005 there were ten teams in the VSL, but over time the number has fallen dramatically. The political climate in the country (including assassinations and kidnappings) has made Venezuela a dangerous place, and while most MLB organizations have full-time or part-time scouts working there, only four MLB organizations now field a team in the VSL.
When the Cubs moved their second affiliate in the Dominican Summer League (DSL Cubs #2) to the VSL in 2013, they were bucking a trend where MLB organizations were.moving their VSL affiliate to the DSL as a second DSL team. (The Cubs had just built their new state-of-the-art academy complex in the Dominican Republic, but they also wanted to increase their presence in Venezuela). So the VSL became a five-team league in 2013 when the Cubs placed a team there, resulting in a schedule where each of the five teams would play each of the other four VSL teams once and then get a bye on the 5th day.
However, the 2015 VSL schedule had to be re-worked at the last minute after the Mariners suddenly and unexpectedly pulled out of the VSL, moving their VSL affiliate (VSL Mariners) to the DSL earlier this year (that affiliate will play in the DSL as DSL Mariners #2). So with only four teams now in the VSL (VSL Cubs, VSL Phillies, VSL Rays, and VSL Tigers), the schedule has been altered to where the four clubs will play six days in a row and then get Sundays off (like the Arizona Fall League).
The youngest player on the VSL Cubs roster is SS Rafael Narea,(he just turned 17 last month). The slick-fielding Narea was at Extended Spring Training for about a month before returning to Venezuela last week, and while he went hitless in eight Cactus League EXST Plate Appearances, he was impressive in the field, especially for a player that young.
21-year old catcher Roberto Vahlis (known as "Fuji" by his teammates) is also on the VSL Cubs roster. He was at Riverview Park for Minor League Camp and then for the first half of Extended Spring Training, before returning to Venezuela with Narea last week. Vahlis spent the previous three seasons playing in Latin American summer leagues, with the DSL Blue Jays in 2012, and then with the VSL Cubs in 2013-14. (He is from Venezula). So this will be the last season for Vahlis as an active player in the VSL or DSL, because players are not allowed to spend more than four seasons in Latin American summer leagues. (Same goes for LHP Carlos Rodriguez and RHP Harrinson Bermudez).
Vahlis had three hits (all three singles) in five Cactus League EXST AB (all as a pinch-hitter or DH) before returning to Venezuela. He was originally signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a 17-year old international free-agent in July 2011, and he has hit a combined 213/324/313 in 107 career minor league games (2012-14).
Besides Narea and Vahlis, LHSPs Carlos Rodriguez and Yapson Gomez have spent time in the U. S., Rodriguez at Cubs Extended Spring Training and then with the AZL Cubs in 2013, and Gomez at Cubs AZ Instructs post-2014. (Neither was invited to Minor League Camp or Extended Spring Training this season). .
Six members of the 2014 VSL Cubs are presently at Cubs Extended Spring Training in Mesa, including RHP Enrique de los Rios, 2014 VSL HR champion 3B-1B Wladimir Galindo, IF-OF Danny Gutierrez, SS Andruw Monasterio, C Jhonny Pereda, and 1B-3B Miguel Rico (the Cubs are converting Rico to catcher).
Althouigh all three pitched for the VSL Cubs last season, Venezuelan LHP Alex Pacheco, Panamanian RHP Moises Ramirez, and Colombian RHP Mauro Vides have been assigned to the DSL Cubs (at least temporariliy). . .
Almost half of the players on the VSL Cubs Opening Day roster will be making their pro debut in 2015 (these players are underlined).
Because they exceeded their pre-assigned 2013-14 International Signmg Bonus Pool limit by more than 15% (when they signed OF Eloy Jimenez, SS Gleyber Torres, RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP Jeferson Mejia, RHP Erling Moreno, and C Yohan Matos), the Cubs were restricted to signing no player to a bonus in excess of $250,000 in the 2014-15 International Signing Period (ISP), Four of the twelve players receiving six-figure signing bonuses from the Cubs during the 2014-15 ISP have been assigned to the VSL Cubs, including LHP Emilio Ferrebus ($250K signing bonus), LHP Riger Fernandez ($200K signing bonus), SS Francisco Garay ($200K signing bonus), and SS Rafael Narea ($150K signing bonus).
VSL CUBS: 30
* bats or throws left
# bats both
PITCHERS: 17
Jesus Arias
Andres Arteaga
Harrinson Bermudez
* Andres Bonalde
Alejandro Colorado
Luis Contreras
* Riger Fernandez
Emilio Ferrebus
* Yapson Gomez
Jose Leidenz
Gabriel Lima
Ivan Medina
Bryan Molina
* Eugenio Palma
Juan Rengifo
* Carlos Rodriguez
Freddy Tineo
CATCHERS: 3
Daniel Diaz
Gustavo Polanco
Roberto Vahlis
INFIELDERS: 5
Jhonny Bethencourt
Francisco Garay
Fidel Matos
Rafael Narea
Henry Pedra
OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Luis Ayala
Moises Colasante
Jose Gonzalez
Luis Hidalgo
Jose Rojas
MANAGER
Pedro Gonzalez
COACHES
Franklin Blanco (Hitting Coach)
Eduardo Villacis (Pitching Coach)
ATHLETIC TRAINER:
Arnoldo Goite
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Manny Estrada
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