With almost 20% of the MLS season complete, we take a look at five young standouts who are candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.
The MLS has 51 players listed as rookies for the 2017 season (find a link to the full list below). Now that almost one-fifth of the season is in the books, who has stood out? Top draft pick, Jeremy Ebobisse, has yet to play for the Timbers,and a few new names have popped up since preseason.
Before the season started, the staff here at MLS Multiplex predicted who would win this award. Here are five rookies that have impressed and are in line for the 2017 Rookie of the Year Award. (Note: These are not in a ranking order).
Julian Gressel (Atlanta United)
The club picked up Gressel with the number eight overall pick in the 2017 SuperDraft after a standout college career at Providence in the Big East.
Position: Midfielder
Games Played / Games Started: 6/6
Minutes Played: 467
Goals/Assists: 0/1
Team Position: 6th in the East
Ian Harkes (DC United)
Won the MAC Hermann Trophy given to the best player in college soccer after a great career at Wake Forest. Signed with the club in January as their ninth homegrown player.
Position: Midfielder
Games Played / Games Started: 5/5
Minutes Played: 450
Goals/Assists: 0/0
Team Position: 8th in the East
Joshua Smith (New England Revolution)
The second rookie on the list to have spent time in Germany. He was a 4th round pick in the 2017 SuperDraft out of the University of San Francisco. His physical presence as just a rookie bodes well for the center of the Revolution defense in the years ahead.
Position: Defender
Games Played / Games Started: 3/3
Minutes Played: 269
Goals/Assists: 0/0
Team Position: 7th in the East
Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake)
After spending time in the RSL youth academy, he signed with Liverpool. After spending time helping the US U-20 team qualify for the U-20 World Cup, he is back in the states on loan from the EPL side.
Position: Forward
Games Played / Games Started: 5/5
Minutes Played: 450
Goals/Assists: 1/0
Team Position: 6th in the West
Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes)
Signed as a home grown player ahead of the season, Lima has been involved with the San Jose organization since 2010. Four years of collegiate experience at the University of California, while also getting playing time with the Burlingame Dragons in the USL PDL.
Position: Defender
Games Played / Games Started: 7/7
Minutes Played: 630
Goals/Assists: 1/0
Team Position: 5th in the West
Next: Is there an MLS backline that would actual want John Terry?
You can find the full list of MLS rookies for the 2017 campaign here. Let us know who you think is the standout thus far this season.