Tony Thomas, Jr., one of the best players in the NCAA in 2007, was taken 97th overall by the Cubs.

Major League Baseball teams selected 70 former and current Valley Baseball League players during the 2007 First-Year Player Draft held on Thursday, June 7 and Friday, June 8.  In addition, five players signed contracts prior to the draft.

Headlining the 2007 VBL draft class was Tony Thomas, Jr. of Florida State.  The second baseman for the Seminoles played for the Harrisonburg Turks in 2005.  The third-round pick of the Chicago Cubs hit .430 and led the NCAA with 33 doubles while adding six triples, 11 home runs, and 31 steals.  He was named the national player of the year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and remains in the running for the Dick Howser Trophy, Brooks Wallace Award, and the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

Former Staunton Braves pitcher Tim Bascom and former Harrisonburg pitcher Brad Mills were each fourth round selections.  Bascom, out of Central Florida, was taken by the Baltimore Orioles, while Arizona standout Mills was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bascom was one of six VBL players taken by the Orioles, the most of any MLB team.  The Cubs and Florida Marlins were second with five players taken.  The Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants each picked four Valley Leaguers.  Altogether 29 players went to American League teams, while 37 went to the National League with 27 of the 30 MLB teams selecting at least one VBL player.

Harrisonburg led the way with 12 players drafted in 2007, while Staunton was right behind with 11.  Winchester and Haymarket each had eight players picked.


Valley League Selections in 2007 MLB Draft
Name, College, Round (VBL team and year) MLB Team

Corey Brown, Oklahoma State, supplemental round (Winchester 2005) Athletics
Tommy Hunter, Alabama, supplemental round (Luray 2006) Rangers
Tony Thomas, Florida State, third round (Harrisonburg 2005) Cubs
Tim Bascom, Central Florida, fourth round (Staunton) Orioles
Brad Mills, Arizona, fourth round (Harrisonburg 2005) Blue Jays
Jamie McOwen, Florida International, sixth round (Luray 2005-06) Mariners
Manny Miquelez, Miami, eighth round (Staunton 2005) Tigers
Alex Garabedian, Charleston, eighth round (Staunton) Dodgers
Kade Keowen, LSU-Eunice, ninth round (Staunton 2005-06) Red Sox
Mark Gildea, Florida State, ninth round (Covington 2005) Nationals
Adam White, West Virginia, ninth round (Waynesboro 2006) Indians
Greg Sexton, William & Mary, 10^th round (New Market 2004) Devil Rays
Wally Crancer, Georgia Tech, 12^th round (Covington) Orioles
Craig Stinson, Texas A&M, 12^th round (Harrisonburg 2004) Nationals
Garrett Parcell, San Diego State, 12^th round (Covington) Marlins
Daniel Morales, San Francisco, 14^th round (Harrisonburg 2006) Nationals
Josh Dew, Troy, 14^th round (Harrisonburg 2006) Cardinals
Kenny Durst, West Virginia, 15^th round (Waynesboro 2006) Rockies
Mark Brackman, William Jewell, 16^th round (New Market 2006) Tigers
Patrick Norris, Oklahoma City, 16^th round (Harrisonburg 2007) Royals
Chris Fournier, George Mason, 16^th round (Winchester 2005) Mets
Zach Sterner, Tennessee Wesleyan, 17^th round (Winchester 2005) Phillies
Levi Maxwell, West Virginia, 18^th round (Waynesboro 2006) White Sox
Chris Ingoglia, Stetson, 18^th round (Staunton) Marlins
Bobby Spain, Oklahoma City, 19^th round (Harrisonburg 2006-07) Pirates
Michael Solbach, Liberty, 19^th round (Luray 2005) Diamondbacks
Adam McDaniel, Georgia, 19^th round (Winchester 2004) Padres
Daniel Cook, Florida Atlantic, 20^th round (Haymarket 2007) Nationals
Tyler Rhoden, Vanderbilt, 22^nd round (Staunton 2004) Reds
Frank Gailey, West Chester, 23^rd round (New Market 2005-06) Blue Jays
Jason Bour, George Mason, 23^rd round (Haymarket 2007) Reds
Brandon Harrigan, Oklahoma City, 23^rd round (Harrisonburg 2006) Tigers
Chad Rice, VMI, 24^th round (Staunton 2006) Pirates
Tim Sexton, Miami-Dade, 24^th round (Staunton) Dodgers
Mike Mitchell, Virginia, 25^th round (Staunton 2006) Braves
Jason Kiley, Florida Gulf Coast, 25^th round (Haymarket 2005) Yankees
Clint Robinson, Troy, 25^th round (Harrisonburg 2005-06) Royals
Kevin Carkeek, Oakland, 25^th round (Woodstock 2005) Astros
Gary Gattis, Yavapai, 26^th round (Harrisonburg 2007) Yankees
Ty Pryor, North Florida, 28^th round (Harrisonburg 2007) Angels
Collin Cowgill, Kentucky, 29^th round (Covington 2005) Athletics
Danny Gill, Miami, 30^th round (Woodstock 2006) Astros
Jordan Hotchkiss, Brevard, 31^st round (New Market 2007) Reds
Chad Dawson, Indiana State, 31^st round (Harrisonburg 2005) Yankees
Dom Duggan, Coastal Carolina, 32^nd round (Haymarket 2005) Giants
Pete Andrelcyk, Coastal Carolina, 32^nd round (Waynesboro) Orioles
Luis Bautista, Florida International, 32^nd round (Haymarket 2006) Cubs
Josh Thompson, Mercer, 32^nd round (Winchester 2005) Marlins
Joey Stevens, Pensacola J.C., 33^rd round (Luray 2007) Diamondbacks
Derek Blacksher, McNeese State, 33^rd round (Staunton) Marlins
Chris Pecora, North Carolina Wesleyan, 33^rd round (Winchester 2006) Mariners
Tyler Kuhn, West Virginia, 33^rd round (Luray 2006-07) Indians
Josh Judy, Indiana Tech, 34^th round (Haymarket 2006-07) Indians
Enrique Garcia, Miami, 34^th round (Winchester 2005-06) Cubs
Eric Perlozzo, Shippensburg, 35^th round (Woodstock 2006) Orioles
Matthew Mallory, Oklahoma Science & Arts, 36^th round (Woodstock 2005-06) Marlins
Yuri Higgins, South Florida, 38^th round (Loudoun 2004) Cubs
Michael Harrington, Charleston, 38^th round (Luray 2005) Orioles
Joey Williamson, Notre Dame, 38^th round (Luray 2004) Rockies
Chris Vasami, Elon, 39^th round (Front Royal 2006) Rockies
Corey Bachman, VMI, 40^th round (Winchester 2005) Cubs
Jeremy Thorne, Florida Southern, 42^nd round (Waynesboro 2006, Staunton 2005) Angels
Cole McCurry, Tennessee Wesleyan, 43^rd round (New Market 2005) Orioles
Shane Jordan, Stetson, 43^rd round (Luray 2004) Giants
Cat Everett, Tulane, 44^th round (Waynesboro 2005) Astros
Phil Disher, South Carolina, 45^th round (Front Royal 2005) Giants
Devery Van Der Keere, Louisiana-Lafayette, 48^th round (Covington 2005) Royals
Walter Diaz, South Florida, 48^th round (Covington 2005) Indians
Brandon Reichert, Florida State, 49^th round (Haymarket 2006) Rockies
Mike Loree, Villanova, 50^th round (Front Royal 2004) Giants


Players who signed free agent deals with MLB organizations
Phil Bartleski, Oklahoma City (Harrisonburg 2006) Yankees
Matt Hudgins, Old Dominion (Woodstock 2005) Cubs
Justin Jenkins, West Virginia (Front Royal 2003, Waynesboro 2006) Indians
Ray Redden, Kennesaw State (Front Royal 2006) Braves
Dan Zeffiro, Kean (New Market 2006) Reds