The Cubs have moved their second Dominican Summer League (DSL) team to Venezuela (Ciudad Alianza), and so 2013 will see the debut of the VSL Cubs (and no more DSL Cubs #2).
While the Cubs have signed many Venezuelan players over the years (with Carlos Zambrano, Angel Guzman, Ronny Cedeno, and Geremi Gonzalez being the most-notable ones), they have operated a team in the Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) only once previous, and that was a "co-op" team shared with the Minnesota Twins in 2007.
The VSL has been in operation since 1997 and had at one time as many as a dozen teams. However, in recent years the number of MLB clubs with affiliates in the VSL has dwindled to just four (Mariners, Rays, Tigers, and Phillies in 2012), with the Cubs bucking the contraction trend by actually putting a new team in the league this season.
It is perhaps a little bit strange that the Cubs have chosen to move one of their DSL teams to Venezuela just as their new state-of-the-art multi-million dollar Dominican Academy goes on-line, but they probably recognize the potential motherload of baseball talent that's just waiting to be discovered in Central & South America (including Brazil), and having a presence in the VSL could help the Cubs get a foothold there.
While the Dominican Summer League (DSL) does not begin play until June 1st, VSL Opening Day is next Monday (May 13th), and the VSL regular season runs through August 5th. A best two-out-of-three playoff between the 1st and 2nd place teams follows the conclusion of the regular season.
The VSL roster limit is 35, but at present the Cubs have assigned only 24 players to the VSL Cubs, with 22 of the players from Venezuela, one from Curacao, and one from the Dominican Republic. (Essentially all of the Venezuelan players who had been assigned to DSL Cubs #1 or DSL Cubs #2 were moved to the VSL Cubs). The two Mexican players assigned to the Dominican Academy (RHP Javier Castro and LHP David Villegas) could be assigned to the VSL Cubs, too, as well as any Cuban or other non-Dominican international players (including no more than two players from Puerto Rico) the Cubs may sign in coming months.
There are also 11 Venezuelan players presently assigned to the Cubs Extended Spring Training team (RHP Daniel Adrian, OF Jeffrey Baez, C Erick Castillo, 2B Bryant Flete, RHP Erick Leal, 3B Mark Malave, LHP Angel Mejias, SS Carlos Penalver, C Wilfredo Petit, LHP Carlos Rodriguez, and LHP Luis Villegas) who could be moved down to the VSL Cubs, although most of the Venezuelans at EXST are likely ticketed for the AZL Cubs or Boise.
2013 VSL CUBS:
Recent comments
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)
in 1 week of play, masterboney has gone from a line of .206/.289/.265 to .262/.333/.328
11 hits and 1 walk in 21 PA. 9 singles, 2 doubles.
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:36 pm (view)
that was a true kick in the teeth loss. 6 run lead blown. ARZ won. CIN won. MIA postponed (vs NYM)
JoePepitone 09/26/2023 - 09:12 pm (view)
You don’t win 100 games without having a lockdown closer.
JoePepitone 09/26/2023 - 09:10 pm (view)
Brant Brown came immediately to mind.
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:03 pm (view)
suzuki...the WORST time to have a brant brown moment. wow. ATL leads. wow...
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:34 pm (view)
that...did not work out.
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:32 pm (view)
we got assad out here on 2 days rest after 4 innings and 49 pitches. okay.
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:14 pm (view)
men on and steele in trouble...of course it's cuas up in the pen. cuas isn't trash, but wow...this is our high-leverage guy? he's just a bit wild and not exactly hard to hit for a guy being called on so much to deal with guys on base.
crunch 09/26/2023 - 09:58 pm (view)
i am becoming increasingly not opposed to signing bellinger if the bidding doesn't get insane. 1st and CF both need "insurance."
Eric S 09/26/2023 - 09:48 pm (view)
PCA is short for TOOTBLAN