Baseball America publishes a list of their top 100 prospects each year, and have done so since 1990.
So, you know what I had to do, Brilliant Reader… here is every Valley League alumnus who has been named in the history of the BA 100 list!
1990-1997: None
1998: Mike Lowell, #71, 3B, New York Yankees (Waynesboro 1993)
1999: None
2000: Adam Everett, #76, SS, Houston Astros (Winchester 1996)
Aubrey Huff, #98, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays (Staunton 1997)
2001: Jon Rauch, #4, RHP, Chicago White Sox (Harrisonburg 1998)
Aubrey Huff, #43
2002: Jon Rauch, #92
2003: Jon Rauch, #92
2004-2005: None
2006: Cliff Pennington, #83, SS, Oakland A’s (Harrisonburg 2003)
2007: None
2008: Chris Perez, #97, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Staunton 2004)
2009: Yonder Alonso, #35, 1B, Cincinnati Reds (Luray 2006)
2010: Yonder Alonso, #45
2011: Jason Kipnis, #54, 2B, Cleveland Indians (Covington 2006-07)
Yonder Alonso, #73
2012: Yonder Alonso, #33
Cory Spangenberg, #78, 2B, San Diego Padres (Winchester 2010)
2013-2017: None
If I had to guess who will make the list in the coming year, I would say Nate Pearson (Staunton 2016) had a solid shot, especially with his velocity (he’s hit 100+ on the radar gun a number of times).
So, if you’re keeping score at home, 9 different players have been named a top 100 prospect. Two come from Harrisonburg, Winchester, and Staunton, and one comes from Waynesboro, Luray, and Covington. Every single one of the nine has had a nice career in the major leagues.
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