VALLEY LEAGUE: More than 50 VBLers selected in draft

By: Robert Sisk | News Virginian
Published: June 12, 2009

The final tally is in.

On Thursday, at least 21 more former Valley League players were drafted during Major League Baseball’s amateur draft, bringing the three-day total to 53.

John Leonard, Waynesboro Generals co-owner and publisher of the All Things Valley League Web site, a popular VBL fan site, said that a few more players might be added to the final tally during the next couple of days, but the league is on track to meet its average.

“It stacks up about the same as it has in past years,” Leonard said. “It’s usually about one per round. I probably missed a few so we might run 55 or 57.”

Former Covington Lumberjack Jason Kipnis was the first VBL player to be picked up, going in the second round on Tuesday.

Generals alumni Pat Irvine (33rd, Mariners) and Danny Wiltz (35, White Sox) were both selected on Thursday, joining former teammates Jason Cowan (10th, Orioles) and Brandon Sizemore (30th, Brewers).

Leonard said that Sizemore was picked later than he expected.

“I think Brandon Sizemore going in the 30th was disappointing,” he said. “There are always guys you expect to go higher that don’t.”

Matt Adams was waiting to see if he was going to be selected in this year’s draft before joining the Waynesboro Generals. He was picked in the 23rd and will most likely not play in the VBL this summer

“He was planning to sign if he got drafted in any round,” Leonard said.

Former Winchester Royal Justin Collop was selected in the sixth round, higher than Leonard expected.

“I’ve been tracking who was generating buzz, and when he popped up, that surprised me,” he said.

Leonard said that the number of picks from the VBL could only help boost the league and draw even better talent.

“Anytime you have players that play pro ball and they came out of the Valley League it’s a big deal,” he said. “I’m going to scream about it from the rooftops on my Web site. Really it should be a point of pride that we are doing what we are supposed to do and that they are going on to hopefully make a living playing baseball.”