Thursday’s 2016 MLS SuperDraft will showcase the latest class of top prospects who will have a chance to realize their dream of playing soccer at the professional level.
Among those expected to hear their names called early are players such as Georgetown centerback Josh Yaro, Stanford fullback Brandon Vincent and Akron midfielder Richie Laryea. Vincent’s Combine was so impressive that USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann called him up into the national side’s ongoing January camp. And Yaro is for all intents and purposes a shoe-in to get picked first by the Chicago Fire.
Columbus Crew SC Picks First in the Second Round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. How Did It Happen?
But for Columbus Crew SC, the first round isn’t where the action’s going to be in this draft. By virtue of finishing as the league runner-up after falling in the MLS Cup Final to the Portland Timbers, the club picks second to last in the opening round. But when the second round begins, that’s where it starts to get interesting for the Black and Gold.
You see, somehow Columbus has the first overall pick in the second round. How that all came to be is almost the result of a full-circle moment for the club. And it all centers around former defender Eric Gehrig.
Gehrig was not among the 11 players Crew SC decided to put on their protected list during the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. This took place on December 10th of that year as a means to populate the rosters of league newcomers Orlando City SC and New York City FC. After having played his entire pro career to that point with Columbus, Gehrig was selected with Orlando’s final pick in the draft.
But his time with the Lions would be short-lived…actually, more like non-existent. Orlando would almost immediately trade him to the Chicago Fire for the club’s second round pick in this year’s SuperDraft. As long as they kept it, OCSC would make this selection in the second round based on Chicago’s finish in the standings during the 2015 season.
Here’s where Crew SC came in. The club would end up dealing forward Adam Bedell to Orlando on August 6th of last year. What was the compensation they received in return? You guessed it. That second round pick which originally belonged to Chicago. Of course, the Fire would eventually finish dead last in the regular season standings which meant that their rivals from central Ohio would get to pick first in round two as a result.
That’s not the team’s only pick in the second round either. They’re currently slated to make two more selections, joining Montreal as the only team in the league with three picks in this round. And there are interesting stories behind how Columbus ended up with those picks as well.
The first of these is the 11th pick in the second round. The deal for this pick came a little over two years ago as Crew SC traded goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum to Sporting Kansas City. Gruenebaum was one of the last remaining holdovers on the roster from the club’s lone MLS Cup title in 2008.
And not only do the Black and Gold get to make the opening pick of this round, they also finish things up with the 21st. This one came via the now defunct Chivas USA when Crew SC traded Ryan Finley on May 8, 2014. When the league announced the contraction of Chivas, this was listed as a bonus pick for Columbus and was supposed to be the 11th pick this round. However, it was later changed to the final pick of the second round.
Given the increasing importance of clubs’ academy systems in developing young players, it’s feared the SuperDraft will continue to decline in importance. Last year, Columbus drafted five players. Only one of them, centerback Sergio Campbell who was drafted in the first round, saw first team minutes. And the other four are no longer associated with the club.
That doesn’t mean it’s not possible to find players able to become instant contributors in the later rounds. Last year, the Sounders drafted Oniel Fisher late in the second round. He would end up working his way up from Sounders 2 to the first team and ended up starting nine games for the club. And despite a major injury midway through the 2015 season, Red Bulls defender Chris Duvall has made a total of 32 starts after being taken in the second round of the 2014 draft.
Which prospects could help fill some of Crew SC’s team needs heading into this year’s draft? Though the club returns virtually all the key components of the 2015 side that finished as Eastern Conference champions, there is a pressing need to add depth at certain positions, particularly forward and on the back line. Here are a few players I could see the club targeting considering their position with both a late first-round and early second-round pick.
Ben Polk, forward, Syracuse
Polk is expected to go earlier but if he somehow falls to late first-round, he’d be a good fit. The Herkimer, NY native scored 13 goals in 2015, including two in the NCAA Tournament as the Orange made it all the way to the semifinals.
Colin Bonner, forward, UNC-Wilmington
Another potential depth pickup at forward, Bonner has all the physical characteristics of a prototypical number nine. He also ran the fourth fastest 30-yard dash time at the Combine.
Elias Jose Gomez, left back, Argentina
Gomez was one of five international players added as late invitees to the Combine. He was apparently quite impressive in his ability to push forward down the flank. Though the club added Corey Ashe in free agency and have perhaps the most capable tandem of starting fullbacks in MLS with Harrison Afful and Waylon Francis, Gomez could add even more depth to an already formidable unit.
Cole Seiler, center back, Georgetown
Most of the attention of this SuperDraft is centered on Josh Yaro, Seller’s partner in central defense for the Hoyas. But Seiler has plenty of upside himself, reportedly had a tremendous Combine, and could get a look when Crew SC opens up the second round.
Liam Doyle, center back, Ohio State
Doyle has quintessential size for a central defender at 6’4″ and has exceptional aerial ability. That was on display during the Combine when he scored a back post goal off a header, one of his two goals over the weekend. The Isle of Man native also played collegiately in Crew SC’s backyard at Ohio State, so he could generate interest with either of the club’s first two picks in the second round if he’s available.
Regardless of what takes place at this year’s draft, one thing has to be especially pleasing to fans of the Black and Gold. It stems from the fact that their opening pick of the second round essentially was made possible by the miserable on-field performance of the club’s biggest rival. If whomever they take turns out to be a future star, it will only add salt to the wound.
Main Photo:
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 22: Fans of the Columbus Crew SC set off a smoke bomb and wave flags in support during the match against the New York Red Bulls on November 22, 2015 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
