Eleven former Valley League players have either been assigned to their major league club or started the season on the injured list. Here they are, in alphabetical order:

  • Austin Adams (Staunton 2010-11), San Diego Padres: Adams went 3-2, 4.10, with 76 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings for the Padres in 2021.
  • Michael Brosseau (Waynesboro 2015), Milwaukee Brewers: He of the home-run-off-Arodis-Chapman fame was traded from the Rays to the Brewers this offseason. He hit .187/.266/.347 in 150 at-bats in 2021, and has hit a home run for Milwaukee already in 2022.
  • Randy Dobnak (Front Royal 2015), Minnesota Twins: Dobnak is starting the season on the 60-Day IL with “finger soreness.” He went 1-7, 7.64 in 50 2/3 innings in 2021.
  • Austin Gomber (Luray 2012), Colorado Rockies: Gomber went 9-9, 4.53 in 115 1/3 innings last year, with 113 strikeouts. He was ATVL’s 2021 Major League Pitcher of the Year.
  • Will Harris (Staunton 2003), Washington Nationals: Harris pitched in eight games in 2021, and has started the season on the 60-Day IL after right pectoral surgery.
  • Sam Howard (Staunton 2012), Pittsburgh Pirates: Howard went 3-4, 5.60 in 2021, with 60 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.
  • Chad Kuhl (New Market 2012), Colorado Rockies: Kuhl was nontendered by Pittsburgh after going 5-7, 4.82 in 80 1/3 innings in 2021. He will follow Gomber in Colorado’s rotation.
  • Tommy La Stella (Haymarket 2009), San Francisco Giants: La Stella will start the season on the IL with an achilles issue, after hitting .250/.308/.405 in 220 at-bats in 2021. He was ATVL’s Major League Hitter of the Year.
  • Emilio Pagan (Harrisonburg 2010), Minnesota Twins: Pagan was just traded to the Twins a few days ago; he went 4-3, 4.83, with 69 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings for the Padres in 2021.
  • Nate Pearson (Staunton 2016), Toronto Blue Jays: Pearson appeared in 12 games for the Blue Jays in 2021, but will start the season on the IL with mono.
  • Ryan Yarbrough (Luray 2012), Tampa Bay Rays: Teammates with Gomber in the VBL in ’12, Yarbrough went 9-7, 5.11 in 155 innings for the Rays in 2021.

A total of 25 alums played in the majors in 2021; watch for this list to grow throughout the season!