Never say never, but it’s doubtful that the Valley League will ever again have a Major League draft like 2023. Two players picked in the top seven of the first round, the most in the modern draft era, was pretty impressive, and is not likely to be repeated. (Kudos to Wyatt Langford and Rhett Lowder for being those picks, and becoming millionaires in the process.)

On that note, Baseball America has listed the top 100 draft prospects for 2024, and only two former Valley Leaguers made the list:

  • Seaver King (Harrisonburg 2022), transferring to Wake Forest from Wingate, is listed at #8 overall (which would obviously make him a first rounder). King was excellent in the VBL in ’22, winning both the South Division Gold Glove award at shortstop and the South MVP, after batting .313/.378/.487, with 32 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 31 RBIs, 15/18 BB/K, and eight stolen bases. BA calls him a “twitchy” hitter with loads of athleticism, bat speed, contact skills, and defensive actions.
  • Trey Yesavage (Charlottesville 2022), East Carolina, is listed at #46. Yesavage was also very good in the VBL in ’22, going 1-1, 2.50 in 18 innings, with a 1.28 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, and 12.5 K/9. He was named All-South as a starting pitcher. BA has him throwing as hard as 94 mph, touching 98, with a mid-80s slider, power curveball, and a not-too-often-used low-80s changeup.
Seaver King in Harrisonburg in the summer of 2022