I have to warn you, Dear Reader- this list is a bit alarming. Back on November 1st, I posted a few players who have been released or have filed for free agency. I listed Clint Robinson, Alex Wimmers, and Josh Edgin as newly-minted free agents.
Well, Baseball America released its full list of minor league free agents, and there are many, many more former beloved Valley Leaguers who are looking for gainful employment this off season. (I mean they are former VBLers who are beloved, not players who are formerly beloved, of course.)
Here is a quick look at all 20 of them… (Columns are last name, first name, position, VBL team and year, round drafted and year drafted)
| Robinson | Clint | 1B | Harrisonburg | 2005-6 | 25 | 2007 |
| Wimmers | Alex | P | Luray | 2008 | (21) | 2010 |
| Edgin | Josh | P | Winchester | 2007 | 30 | 2010 |
| Jay | Jon | OF | Staunton | 2004 | 2 | 2006 |
| Pennington | Cliff | SS | Harrisonburg | 2003 | 1 | 2005 |
| Alonso | Yonder | 1B | Luray | 2006 | (7) | 2008 |
| Kratz | Erik | C | Waynes-Har | 2000-01 | 29 | 2002 |
| Villanueva | Elih | P | Luray | 2007 | 27 | 2008 |
| Cardullo | Stephen | OF | Covington | 2007 | 24 | 2010 |
| Kensing | Logan | P | Harrisonburg | 2002 | 2 | 2003 |
| Noel | Rico | OF | Covington | 2008 | 5 | 2010 |
| Sosa | Ruben | OF | Harrisonburg | 2010 | 23 | 2011 |
| Copeland | Scott | P | Staunton | 2007 | 21 | 2010 |
| Rodriguez | Eddy | C | Luray | 2005-6 | 20 | 2006 |
| Rickles | Nick | C | Luray | 2010 | 14 | 2011 |
| McElroy | Casey | SS | Waynesboro | 2009 | 11 | 2011 |
| Tolliver | Ashur | P | Harrisonburg | 2007 | 5 | 2009 |
| Adkins | Hunter | P | Staunton | 2010 | FA | 2013 |
| Butler | Joey | OF | New Market | 2006 | 15 | 2008 |
| Hill | Taylor | P | Winchester | 2008 | 6 | 2011 |
Three of these players are likely to get very good major league contracts- Jon Jay, Cliff Pennington, and Yonder Alonso (especially Alonso, who is coming off a career year for Oakland and Seattle).
Most of the others will most assuredly get minor league contracts, if they get contracts at all. Hopefully all of these players will get a chance to continue their careers! (And ATVL will keep everyone updated of course.)
