It's nearly time for another MLS SuperDraft, which means it's also time for a look back at how all of last January's picks fared during their first year in the professional game.
Of course, it's too early to judge how the 2019 class will rank among the others. But with the exception of standouts like Hassani Dotson (pictured above) we can say that most players outside the top 15 players chosen overall stumbled, at least a bit, out of the pro blocks.
Of the 76 players selected:
- 28 - Made an MLS roster
- 22 - Appeared in 1+ MLS games
- 9 - Appeared in 10+ MLS games
- 3 - Appeared in 20+ MLS games
- 24 - Currently on an MLS roster
- 17 - Played in USL Championship on loan from an MLS club
- 30 - Signed by a USL Championship club
With around two-thirds of the 2019 group still on a roster in the top two flights of American soccer, its level of MLS involvement could climb in the years to come. On the other hand, some players selected have opted to join foreign clubs while others have left soccer for various reasons (injury, higher education, jobs in another field, etc.).
Round 1 - 2019 MLS SuperDraft
1 |
CIN |
<strong>Frankie Amaya</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
19 MLS games, 15 starts with FC Cincinnati; also 2 games, 1 start in USOC<br>
2 USL games, 1 start on loan to Orange County SC<br>
Finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting |
2 |
SJ |
<strong>Siad Haji</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
4 MLS games with San Jose; also 1 start in USOC<br>
17 USL games, 10 starts, 1 goal on loan to Reno 1868 |
3 |
ORL |
<strong>Santiago Patiño</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
11 MLS games, 3 starts, two goals, 1 assist for Orlando City; also 2 starts in USOC |
4 |
DAL |
<strong>Callum Montgomery</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Dressed 7 times for FC Dallas, 0 MLS appearances<br>
Loaned to North Texas SC on Mar. 29; 20 starts, three goals in USL1<br>
2 starts in USL1 Playoffs, North Texas SC won the title |
5 |
COL |
<strong>Andre Shinyashiki</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
31 MLS games, 18 starts, 7 goals, 3 assists for Colorado<br>
2 starts for Colorado Springs in USL<br>
2019 Rookie of the Year |
6 |
TOR |
<strong>Griffin Dorsey</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Dressed 6 times, 1 MLS game for Toronto FC; also 1 start in Concacaf Champions League<br>
22 games, 1 goal, 5 assists for Toronto FC II in USL1 |
7 |
MIN |
<strong>Dayne St. Clair</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Dressed 19 times, 0 MLS appearances for Minnesota<br>
Loaned to Forward Madison on Apr. 4; 5 starts, 5 saves, 1 clean sheet in USL1<br>
Trained with Aston Villa in Dec. |
8 |
HOU |
<strong>Sam Junqua</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Dressed 8 times, 0 MLS appearances for Houston; also 1 start in USOC, 1 game in League Cup<br>
Loaned to Rio Grande Valley on Mar. 15; 17 starts in USL |
9 |
NE |
<strong>Tajon Buchanan</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
10 games, 4 starts, 2 assists for New England; also 1 game in USOC |
10 |
DAL |
<strong>John Nelson</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
9 games, 4 starts for FC Dallas<br>
Loaned to North Texas SC on April 12; 6 starts, 1 goal in USL1<br>
1 game, 1 assist in USL1 Playoffs, North Texas won title |
11 |
NE |
<strong>DeJuan Jones</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
20 games, 14 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist for New England; also 1 start in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, 1 start in USOC |
12 |
NYC |
<strong>Luis Barraza</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Dressed 10 times, 0 MLS appearances for NYCFC; also dressed 3 times in MLS Cup Playoffs, 0 appearances |
13 |
CIN |
<strong>Logan Gdula</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Dressed 3 times, 0 MLS appearances for FC Cincinnati<br>
Loaned to Hartford Athletic on May 18; 15 games, 14 starts, 1 goal in USL, 1 start in USOC |
14 |
DC |
<strong>Akeem Ward</strong><br>
Loaned to Loudoun United on Mar. 8; 9 starts, 2 assists in USL<br>
1 MLS game for D.C. United; waived in July<br>
Signed with Birmingham Legion on July 30; 13 starts, 2 assists in USL & 1 start in USL Playoffs |
15 |
MIN |
<strong>Chase Gasper</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
15 games, 14 starts for Minnesota; also 1 start in MLS Cup Playoffs<br>
5 starts in USOC, Minnesota finished as runners-up<br>
Finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting, called in to USMNT camp |
16 |
RBNY |
<strong>Roy Boateng</strong><br>
Signed with Red Bulls II on Mar. 8; 2 games in USL |
17 |
RSL |
<strong>Sam Brown</strong><br>
7 games, 3 starts for Real Monarchs<br>
1 game in USL Playoffs, Real Monarchs won title |
18 |
CLB |
<strong>JJ Williams</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
7 MLS games, 3 starts for Columbus; also 2 games in USOC<br>
Loaned to Birmingham Legion on Apr. 12; 21 games, 19 starts, 7 goals in USL, 2 starts, 1 goal in USL Playoffs |
19 |
LA |
<strong>Emil Cuello</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
9 MLS games, 2 starts, 1 assist with LA Galaxy<br>
2 starts, 1 goal in Leagues Cup, 2 games, 1 goal in USOC<br>
6 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists on loan to LA Galaxy II |
20 |
SEA |
<strong>Tucker Bone</strong><br>
Trained with Seattle, but did not sign<br>
Joined Colorado Springs Switchbacks on June 14; 16 games, eight starts, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL<br>
Moved on a free transfer to Reno 1868 on Dec. 9 |
21 |
SKC |
<strong>Kamar Marriott</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Sporting KC, but was not offered a contract |
22 |
RBNY |
<strong>Janos Loebe</strong><br>
Signed with Red Bulls II on Mar. 15<br>
23 games, 12 starts, 1 goal, 7 assists in USL; also 1 game in USL Playoffs<br>
Had his 2020 option declined on Dec. 5 |
23 |
POR |
<strong>Ryan Sierakowski</strong><br>
Signed with Portland Timbers II on Mar. 1<br>
32 games, 23 starts, 8 goals, 2 assists in USL |
24 |
ATL |
<strong>Anderson Asiedu</strong><br>
Signed by Atlanta United II on Mar. 1<br>
10 games, 8 starts, 1 assist in USL; waived by Atlanta on May 31<br>
Signed with Birmingham Legion on July 15; 14 games, 13 starts, 4 assists in USL, 2 starts in USL Playoffs |
Round 2 - 2019 MLS SuperDraft
1 (25) |
RBNY |
<strong>Sean Nealis</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
9 games, 3 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist with the Red Bulls; also 1 game in Champions League<br>
20 starts, 1 goal for Red Bulls II; also 1 start in USL Playoffs |
2 (26) |
SJ |
<strong>Sergio Rivas</strong><br>
Signed with Reno 1868 on Mar. 20<br>
16 games, 8 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist in USL; also 1 start in USOC |
3 (27) |
ORL |
<strong>Kamal Miller</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
16 games, 14 starts with Orlando City<br>
Made Canada debut on June 24 |
4 (28) |
COL |
<strong>Marcello Borges</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Colorado, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with NPSL (fourth flight) Atlantic City FC on May 1<br>
Moved to NISA (third flight) Detroit City FC on Aug. 1; 8 games, 4 starts, 1 goal in NPSL Members Cup, club won the title |
5 (29) |
CIN |
<strong>Tommy McCabe</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Loaned to North Carolina FC on Feb. 15; 9 games, 8 starts, 2 goals in USL & 1 start in USOC<br>
6 games, 2 starts with FC Cincinnati on loan recalls |
6 (30) |
CIN |
<strong>Jimmy Hague</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
19 games, 0 appearances with FC Cincinnati |
7 (31) |
MIN |
<strong>Hassani Dotson</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
24 games, 15 starts, 4 goals with Minnesota United<br>
5 games, 4 starts, 2 assists in USOC, Minnesota finished as runners-up<br>
Finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting |
8 (32) |
RBNY |
<strong>Rece Buckmaster</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Signed by Red Bulls II on Mar. 5; 18 games, 16 starts, 1 assist in USL & 1 start in USL Playoffs<br>
Signed by Red Bulls on Aug. 15; 6 MLS starts, 1 USOC start, 1 MLS Cup Playoffs start |
9 (33) |
HOU |
<strong>Andrew Samuels</strong><br>
Signed with Rio Grande Valley on Mar. 7<br>
28 starts, 1 assist in USL |
10 (34) |
MTL |
<strong>Amar Sejdic</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
Loaned to Ottawa Fury on Apr. 26; 3 games, 1 start in USL<br>
1 MLS start with Montreal on loan recall |
11 (35) |
VAN |
<strong>Brendan McDonough</strong><br>
1 MLS start with Vancouver<br>
Loaned to Charlotte Independence on August 7; 3 starts in USL<br>
Had his 2020 option declined by Vancouver on Oct. 17 |
12 (36) |
LA |
<strong>Don Tchilao</strong><br>
Signed by LA Galaxy II on Mar. 7; 18 games, 14 starts in USL<br>
1 Leagues Cup start with LA Galaxy<br>
Had his 2020 option declined on Dec. 5 |
13 (37) |
CIN |
<strong>Ben Lundt</strong><br>
Loaned to FC Louisville on Feb. 7<br>
12 starts, 27 saves, 4 clean sheets |
14 (38) |
ORL |
<strong>Tommy Madden</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Orlando City, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with New Mexico United on Mar. 7; 13 games, 2 starts in USL & 2 starts in USOC<br>
Was not offered a new contract for 2020 |
15 (39) |
TOR |
<strong>Adam Wilson</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Toronto FC, but was not offered a contract |
16 (40) |
LAFC |
<strong>Peter-Lee Vassell</strong><br>
6 games, 2 starts, 1 assist with LAFC<br>
Loaned to Phoenix Rising on Aug. 15; 6 games, 3 starts, 1 assist in USL<br>
Had his 2020 option declined by LAFC on Nov. 21 |
17 (41) |
RSL |
<strong>Kyle Coffee</strong><br>
Signed by Real Monarchs on Feb. 27<br>
21 games, 7 starts, 6 goals, 1 assist in USL; 2 games, 1 start in USL Playoffs, Real Monarchs won title |
18 (42) |
COL |
<strong>Jacob Hauser-Ramsey</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Colorado, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with Memphis 901 on Mar. 21; 14 games, 3 starts in USL & 2 starts in USL Playoffs |
19 (43) |
NYC |
<strong>Abdi Mohamed</strong><br>
Loaned to Memphis 901 on Mar. 9; 21 games, 14 starts, 1 assist in USL & 1 start in USOC<br>
Made Somalia debut on Sep. 5<br>
Had 2020 option declined by NYCFC on Nov. 20 |
20 (44) |
SEA |
<strong>Joel Rydstrand</strong><br>
Signed by Tacoma Defiance on Mar. 4; 16 games, 11 starts, 1 assist in USL<br>
Moved on free transfer to Spanish side CD San Roque de Lepe (fourth flight) on Sep. 1; 10 games, 5 starts |
21 (45) |
SKC |
<strong>Camden Riley</strong><br>
Signed by Swope Park Rangers on Feb. 20<br>
24 games, 21 starts, 1 goal in USL |
22 (46) |
SJ |
<strong>Mamadi Camara</strong><br>
Signed by Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Dec. 17 |
23 (47) |
POR |
<strong>Lennart Hein</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Portland, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed by Isthmian League Premier Division (English seventh flight) side Carshalton Athletic on July 1; 1 start in FA Cup |
24 (48) |
ATL |
<strong>Amir Bashti</strong><br>
Signed by San Francisco Glens on June 28; 2 starts in USL2<br>
After training with 2. Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel, moved on a free transfer to Atlanta United II on Aug. 22<br>
9 games, 7 starts, 1 goal in USL |
Round 3 - 2019 MLS SuperDraft
1 (49) |
CIN |
<strong>Rashawn Dally</strong> [active MLS player]<br>
12 games, 8 starts, 1 goal with FC Cincinnati; also 1 game in USOC<br>
Loaned to Memphis 901 on Mar. 5; 11 games, 8 starts, 1 goal in USL |
2 (50) |
SJ |
<strong>Nathan Aune</strong><br>
Signed by Reno 1868 on Mar. 21<br>
2 games, 1 start in USL; also 1 start in USOC |
3 (51) |
LA |
PASSED |
4 (52) |
LA |
Excluded due to passing on pick #51 |
5 (53) |
CHI |
<strong>Ebenezer Ackon</strong><br>
Signed by San Antonio FC on Feb. 1<br>
33 starts, 1 assist in USL |
6 (54) |
TOR |
<strong>Patrick Bunk-Andersen</strong><br>
Signed by Toronto FC II on Mar. 13<br>
28 games, 27 starts, 5 goals in USL1 |
7 (55) |
CHI |
<strong>Grant Stoneman</strong><br>
Signed by Lansing Ignite on Jan. 31<br>
23 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL1; also 1 start in USL1 Playoffs & 1 start in USOC<br>
Club folded in October |
8 (56) |
HOU |
<strong>Brad Dunwell</strong><br>
Signed by Rio Grande Valley on Mar. 8<br>
5 games, 4 starts in USL; Also 2 starts in USOC<br>
Allowed to run out of contract in Dec. |
9 (57) |
NE |
PASSED |
10 (58) |
MTL |
PASSED |
11 (59) |
ORL |
<strong>Scott DeVoss</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Orlando City, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with Hartford Athletic on Mar. 1<br>
Loaned to FC Tuscon on April 11; 5 games, 3 starts |
12 (60) |
LA |
PASSED |
13 (61) |
CIN |
PASSED |
14 (62) |
DC |
<strong>Geo Alves</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with D.C. United, but was not offered a contract<br>
Returned to old amateur club Brockton United; three starts, three goals in 2020 USOC qualifying |
15 (63) |
DAL |
<strong>Eduvie Ikoba</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with FC Dallas, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with Hungarian side ZTE on Aug. 15; 13 games, 8 starts, 4 goals in OTP Bank Liga & Hungarian Cup |
16 (64) |
LAFC |
<strong>Javi Perez</strong><br>
Signed with LAFC on Mar. 14; 1 game in MLS<br>
Sent on loan to Phoenix Rising on Apr. 19; 3 games in USL<br>
Season ended by an ACL tear in May<br>
Contract option declined following 2019 season |
17 (65) |
RSL |
PASSED |
18 (66) |
CLB |
<strong>Justin Donawa</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Columbus, but logistical issues kept him from signing<br>
Signed with Darlington FC on Aug. 3<br>
18 games, 5 starts, 4 goals in National League North (English sixth flight); 22 minutes in FA Cup |
19 (67) |
NYC |
PASSED |
20 (68) |
SEA |
<strong>Aleks Berkholds</strong><br>
Signed with Tacoma Defiance on Mar. 4; 23 games, 22 starts, 1 assist in USL<br>
Had his 2020 option declined in Dec. |
21 (69) |
SKC |
<strong>Franky Martinez</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp, but did not sign a contract |
22 (70) |
RBNY |
<strong>Rashid Nuhu</strong><br>
Signed with Red Bulls II on May 6; 4 starts, 5 saves, in USL<br>
Had his 2020 option declined in Dec. |
23 (71) |
POR |
<strong>Francesco Moore</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with Portland, but was not offered a contract<br>
District manager for ALDI USA |
24 (72) |
DC |
<strong>Shinya Kadono</strong><br>
Though unable to earn a D.C. United deal in the preseason, he signed with their USL affiliate Loudoun United on Feb. 15<br>
10 games, 3 starts, 1 goal in USL; Was called up for D.C. United's May friendly against Real Betis, played 28 minutes<br>
Sent on loan to USL1's Tormenta FC on July 27; 10 games, 6 starts, 1 goal |
Round 4 - 2019 MLS SuperDraft
1 (73) |
LAFC |
<strong>Kevin Mendoza</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with LAFC, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with Veracruz on Aug. 26; Dressed 3 times, 0 appearances in Liga MX<br>
Moved on a free transfer to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Jan. 1, 2020 |
2 (74) |
SJ |
PASSED |
3 (75) |
MIN |
<strong>Kevin Rodriguez</strong><br>
Signed with Rio Grande Valley Toros on Mar. 7; 22 games, 18 starts, 2 goals, 2 assists in USL<br>
Had his 2020 option exercised by the club in Dec. |
4 (76) |
COL |
<strong>Robbie Mertz</strong><br>
Was in preseason camp with the Rapids, but was not offered a contract<br>
Signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Mar. 29<br>
26 games, 19 starts, six goals, four assists in USL; also 2 starts, 1 goal in USL Playoffs, 28 minutes in USOC<br>
Had his 2020 contract option exercised by Pittsburgh in Dec. |
5 (77) |
CHI |
<strong>Mark Forrest</strong><br>
Reached an agreement with the Fire in order to finish his management degree at Lehigh<br>
Signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Mar. 29<br>
7 games, 1 start, 1 goal in USL; also 3 minutes in playoffs, 69 minutes in USOC |
6 (78) |
RBNY |
<strong>Sean McSherry</strong><br>
Signed by Red Bulls II on Mar. 8; 8 games, 3 starts, 2 goals in USL<br>
Retired on Dec. 2 |
7 (79) |
ATL |
PASSED |
8 (80) |
RSL |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
9 (81) |
NE |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
10 (82) |
MTL |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
11 (83) |
VAN |
PASSED |
12 (84) |
RBNY |
<strong>Joey Piatczyc</strong><br>
Retired in January due to a knee injury<br>
Senior account executive at Worldwide Express |
13 (85) |
CIN |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
14 (86) |
LA |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
15 (87) |
DAL |
<strong>Sam Ebstein</strong><br>
Spent preseason with FC Dallas, but did not sign with the club<br>
Pursuing a Masters degree in computer science at the University of Chicago |
16 (88) |
DAL |
<strong>Dylan Castanheira</strong><br>
Had already signed with Atlanta United II prior to draft; 21 starts in USL, 84 saves, 1 clean sheet |
17 (89) |
RSL |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
18 (90) |
CLB |
<strong>Rafael Mentzingen</strong><br>
Had already signed with Lansing Ignite prior to being drafted<br>
21 games, 14 starts, six goals, seven assists (tied for second in USL1), was named Player of the Month for July<br>
90 minutes in USL1 Playoffs, 189 minutes in USOC<br>
Trained with Columbus in the fall |
19 (91) |
CLB |
PASSED |
20 (92) |
MTL |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
21 (93) |
SKC |
Excluded due to passing in Round 3 |
22 (94) |
MIN |
<strong>Mitchell Osmond</strong><br>
Signed with Indy Eleven on Mar. 6; 17 games, 15 starts in USL |
23 (95) |
POR |
<strong>David Zalzman</strong><br>
Signed with Deportivo Táchira on July 1; 2 games, 1 start for Venezuelan leaders |
24 (96) |
ORL |
PASSED |
