VSL playoffs review: Tigers capture title
They do it the old-fashioned way down in Venezuela. The top two teams in the summer league squared off to determine the champion. No semifinals. No Wild Card. No frills. Just a best-of-3 Championship Series.
Of the five Venezuelan Summer League teams playing in 2014, the VSL Tigers almost lapped the field, finishing with a 45-23 record thanks to a 27-7 mark at the club's home in Los Guayos. The Detroit affiliate finished nine games ahead of the Phillies (36-32), who held off the Mariners (34-34) by two games to take up the second spot in the Finals, which began Aug. 5.
The following is a rundown of what happened in the Venezuelan Summer League Finals:
Game 1
Phillies 3, Tigers 0: Despite coming into the opener with the poorer record and a losing mark on the road as well, the Phillies pulled off the Game 1 upset behind a big-time pitching performance from Victor Delgado. The 19-year-old right-hander, who went 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA during the regular season, scattered four hits and struck out three over eight innings in the shutout.
The Phils got all the offense they needed on an RBI single by Luis Medoza in the third inning. They tacked on some insurance runs when Tigers reliever Jesus Paricaguan committed a throwing error with the bases loaded in the seventh that allowed two runs to score.
Tigers left-hander Eudis Idrogo, the league's ERA leader during the regular season with a 0.91 mark in 13 games, suffered the loss after allowing one run on six hits over 5 2/3 frames.
Game 2
Tigers 4, Phillies 2: The Phils, now at home, carried their momentum into Game 2 by putting two runs on the board in the first on an RBI double by Jesus Alastre and a run-scoring single by Lucas Rojo. Then it was all Tigers. Junell Ledezma collected an RBI double in the third and they got two more tallies in the sixth -- Andres Sthormes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Luis Torrealba scored on Eliezer Castillo's forceout. Sthormes added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Right-hander Angel Vasquez earned the win after giving up two runs over six frames. After allowing three singles in the first, he gave up only two hits over his final five innings. Right-hander Carlos Indriago suffered the loss for the Phillies. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits in his five frames.
Game 3
Tigers 3, Phillies 2: The winner-take-all Game 3 at the home of the Tigers, which was delayed a day due to rain, started off similarly to the previous affair with the Phillies jumping out to a 2-0 lead, this time in the second inning.
The Tigers didn't get on the scoreboard until an adventurous seventh. Junnell Ledezma got plunked by Phillies left-handed starter and All-VSL Team member Ranger Suarez and Torrealba followed with a single. Sthormes moved both runners into scoring position with a bunt, and they came around to score on a fielding error by shortstop Jose Antequera off Castillo's bat to knot the game, 2-2.
Then it was time for the celebrations in the ninth with Castillo again up to bat. Ledezma started the inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a bunt by Torrealba. The Phillies intentionally walked Sthormes to face Castillo with runners at first and second with one out. The Tigers third baseman hit the ball to his counterpart at the hot corner, Alexander Perdomo, who tried to start the around-the-horn double play. However after getting the out at second, second baseman Daniel Romero committed a throwing error on the pivot, allowing Ledezma to score the game-winning and championship-clinching run.
Castillo finished the game 0-for-4 but played a role in two of the game's biggest at-bats. Suarez was left without a decision, despite allowing two runs -- one earned -- on five hits over eight impressive innings.
Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MiLB.com.
Don't sleep on these prospects at Spring Breakout -- 1 from each team
The second edition of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 are slated to participate, including Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and
Meet the 14 women who run MiLB teams
From California to Massachusetts, from Arkansas to Iowa, leadership in professional baseball is evolving. Coming into the 2025 season, there are 14 women in general manager positions across Minor League Baseball. When most fans think of the GMs in baseball, they likely assume the job is all about building a
2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
From Spring Breakout to MLB? Here are nine players who could soon be in The Show
The inaugural Spring Breakout in 2024 provided a platform for fans to meet many of baseball's top prospects before they began standing out in the Majors shortly thereafter. Paul Skenes striking out Jackson Holliday. Jackson Chourio reaching twice and scoring a run. Jace Jung hitting a pair of homers.
Brewers' 17-year-old international signee draws comparisons to Chourio
PHOENIX – A farm system loses an elite-level prospect like Jackson Chourio, who was the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball at the start of the 2024 season, to the big leagues, it’s easy to understand that it would take a hit in this year’s farm system rankings. So don’t
Cubs have MLB stars AND loaded farm system
MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the
Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
New Rays prospect additions fitting right into the organizational mold
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Thirteen members of the Rays’ Top 30 prospect list weren’t in the organization at this time last year. Two arrived in the 2024 Draft, one was a 2025 international signee and a whopping 10 have come over in trades since last March. Normally with that level
Headlined by big-name bats, Mariners' system strong on pitching depth, too
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners placed fifth in MLB Pipeline's new farm system rankings, thanks in large part to their seven Top 100 Prospects. That total ties them with the Cubs for the most in baseball, and all seven of them are hitters. Don't get the impression that the organization
All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
The inaugural edition of Spring Breakout was a rousing success last year. Sixteen games showcased not only many of baseball's best prospects but also some of the most jaw-dropping tools in the Minors. Of the 10 best individual attributes we highlighted a year ago, nine belonged to players who reached
Boston's 'Core Four' hitting principles breeding prospect success
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Boston was built to be a shining city on a hill, according to John Winthrop. Four centuries later, the Hub’s top three baseball prospects are meant to be a shining example atop the Red Sox farm system. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer – the
Phils' teen catching prospect using ABS challenge experience to his advantage
CLEARWATER, Fla. – One of the storylines of Spring Training has been the implementation of the ABS challenge system in select ballparks across Arizona and Florida. But those in the Sunshine State might be a little more familiar with the tech than their southwestern counterparts. The Florida State League first
Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Ding, ding, who’s ready for Round 2? Last year’s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a
Yankees' prospect gains coming up long at short
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have a fascinating shortstop decision on their hands. You could say it’s the most interesting one since you-know-who retired in 2014. New York is battling going with a veteran presence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa or a prospect in Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. It’s still too
Mets looking for top prospects to complement veteran stars
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The last time Juan Soto played in a Minor League game was back in 2018, when in the span of 39 games at age 19 he went from A ball to High-A to Double-A and then to the big leagues with the Nationals and never
'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects