Valley Baseball League

Founded in 1923 with roots in 1897, the Valley Baseball League (VBL) is an NCAA- and MLB-sanctioned collegiate summer wood-bat league in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. It features 12 teams divided into North and South divisions, drawing top NCAA-eligible players from across the U.S. The season includes a 40-game schedule from early June to late July, followed by playoffs where all teams qualify (top seeds get byes), culminating in a best-of-three championship. The league emphasizes player development, MLB scouting (funded in part by MLB grants), and community involvement through host families and volunteers. It has produced over 1,500 professional players, including 79 drafted in 2008 alone, and notable alumni like Juan Soto, Chris Taylor, and Dansby Swanson. Operating as a non-profit, the VBL is part of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball and reverted to divisional play in 2024 after a 44-game format in 2023.