*Thanks to John Leonard of All Things Valley League for help in compiling this list.
Photo Credit: New Market Rebels

The Valley Baseball League was heavily featured in the earlier rounds of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, with 12 selections in the opening 10 rounds.

While the total number of players drafted (36) was lower than most recent years, there were plenty of picks higher up the board. 12 players went in the first 10 rounds, and 24 were picked in the opening 20 rounds.

Waynesboro led the way with six selections, while Front Royal and Strasburg had five each. Every current VBL franchise had an alum drafted this year.

The league’s talent level in 2017 was shown by the number of draftees from last year’s Summer Collegiate Showcase All-Star team that defeated both the Cal Ripken League and SCBL at the tournament. That event may also have helped raise those players’ profiles, as six different members were selected: Andrew Perez (Waynesboro, Chicago), Brendan Venter (Harrisonburg, Atlanta), Cody Wilson (Winchester, Washington), Michael Wielansky (Charlottesville, Houston), Conner Loeprich (Waynesboro, Pittsburgh) and Cash Gladfelter (Woodstock, Seattle).

2016 New Market pitcher Jonathan Bowlan (Memphis) was the first VBL alum to go, getting taken by Kansas City in the second round. Kansas City General Manager Dayton Moore was in attendance at the 2016 Valley League All-Star Game (as an inductee into the league’s Hall of Fame)- a game where Boylan pitched.

2018 VBL signees who were drafted included Wielansky, the 2017 VBL MVP and the top position player taken from NCAA Division III, and Purcellville’s Avery Tucker.

(2-58) Jonathan Bowlan, RHP, Memphis, Kansas City, New Market 16
(5-146) Chris Bec, C, Maine-Orono, Toronto, Front Royal 16
(5-160) Thad Ward, RHP, Central Florida, Boston, Staunton 16
(6-172) Andrew Moritz, OF, UNC Greensboro, Atlanta, Harrisonburg 16
(7-202) Brooks Wilson, RHP, Stetson, Atlanta, Waynesboro 15
(7-213) Brendan Donovan, OF, South Alabama, St. Louis, New Market 16
(8-227) Seth Lancaster, SS, Coastal Carolina, Philadelphia, Charlottesville 15
(8-228) Andrew Perez, LHP, South Florida, Chicago AL, Waynesboro 17
(8-248) Zach Mort, RHP, George Mason, Chicago NL, Front Royal 16
(9-266) Jake Brodt, 1B, Santa Clara, Toronto, Aldie 15
(10-303) Kevin Woodall, 1B, Coastal Carolina, St. Louis, New Market 15
(10-305) JT Hintzen, RHP, Florida Southern, Milwaukee, Woodstock 16
(12-372) Mark Moclair, RHP, Tampa, Houston, Front Royal 17
(13-383) Brendan Venter, 1B, Auburn, Atlanta, Harrisonburg 17
(13-400) Dylan Hardy, OF, South Alabama, Boston, Front Royal 17
(13-401) Cody Wilson, OF, Florida Atlantic, Washington, Winchester 17
(14-429) Josh Green, RHP, SE Louisiana, Arizona, Strasburg 16
(16-471) Michael Curry, C, Georgia, San Diego, Strasburg 16
(17-495) Avery Tucker, OF, New Mexico JC, Detroit, Purcellville 18
(18-528) Romy Gonzalez, 3B, Miami, Chicago AL, Staunton 16
(18-551) Jacob Rhinesmith, OF, Western Kentucky, Washington, New Market 17
(18-552) Michael Wielansky, SS, Wooster, Houston, Charlottesville 17-18
(19-578) Layne Looney, RHP, Richmond, Chicago NL, Charlottesville 17
(20-594) Conner Loeprich, RHP, St.Mary’s, Pittsburgh, Waynesboro 16-17
(22-674) Simon Landry, 1B, Pearl River CC, Los Angeles NL, Strasburg 17
(24-728) Blake Whitney, RHP, USC Upstate, Chicago NL, Front Royal 16
(25-736) Fabian Pena, C, Manhattan, San Francisco, Covington 16
(26-767) Eric White, RHP, Southern Arkansas, Philadelphia, Strasburg 17
(27-801) Gabe Mosser, LHP, Shippensburg, San Diego, Waynesboro 17
(27-808) Cash Gladfelter, 2B, Shippensburg, Seattle, Woodstock 17
(28-844) Austin Hale, C, Stetson, Minnesota, Waynesboro 15
(29-862) Ray Hernandez, 3B, Alabama State, Atlanta, Purcellville 16-17
(31-934) Zach Neff, LHP, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Waynesboro 16
(33-991) Wade Bailey, 2B, Georgia Tech, Los Angeles AL, Harrisonburg 15
(33-1004) Drew Avans, OF, SE Louisiana, Los Angeles NL, Strasburg 15-16
(34-1013) Nick Ward, 2B, West Chester, Oakland, Woodstock 16