Barring any trades Toronto FC will have the 21st selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft happening on January 13 in Los Angeles. The live stream of the draft gets started at 3 pm.
Last season, Toronto FC selected forward Tsubasa Endoh with the ninth overall pick. In 2015, they selected goalkeeper Alex Bono sixth overall.
Due to this season’s expansion to Atlanta and Minnesota, the 21st overall selection moves into the first round. Toronto FC has never selected at 21, but here is a look back at the players who have been taken at the spot in the past few years.
2016 – The Columbus Crew selects midfielder Chase Minter from Cal Poly.
Minter did not sign with the Columbus Crew following training camp, instead opting to sign with the USL’s Sacramento Republic. The native of Rowlett, Texas appeared in nine games during the 2016 campaign with both Sacramento and on loan with the Tulsa Roughnecks. He has since signed with the Real Monarchs, the USL affiliate of Real Salt Lake.
2015 – The Los Angeles Galaxy selects forward Ignacio Maganto from Iona.
The Spanish forward had a nice little debut season for the Galaxy in 2015. Maganto appeared in 20 games, and scored two goals, while also appearing in nine games for LA Galaxy II in the USL. However, the forward was waived prior to the 2016 season and is now suiting up for Croatian first division side Hadjuk Split.
2014 – The Seattle Sounders select defender Jimmy Ockford from Louisville.
Ockford had his option declined following the 2016 season. The native of Yardley, Pennsylvania made just one appearance for the Rave Green over the last three seasons. During his tenure with Seattle, he spent time on loan with the NASL’s New York Cosmo’s and the USL’s Seattle Sounders 2.
2013 – The New England Revolutionselect forward Donnie Smith from UNC Charlotte.
Smith has struggled for playing time over his career with the Revs. He has appeared in just five games over the last four seasons, three of those appearances, including two starts, this past season. He has also spent time on loan with the Rochester Rhinos during his career.
2012 – The Vancouver Whitecaps select defender Chris Estridge from Indiana.
Estridge was cut by Vancouver before the 2012 season, and was subsequently traded to Real Salt Lake. He was released by RSL just two months after his arrival. He signed with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL. In total, the native of Brownsburg, Indiana made 18 professional appearances across the USL and NASL before retiring following the 2015 season.
2011 – The Seattle Sounders select defender Leone Cruz from Southern Methodist University.
Cruz did not make an appearance for the Sounders before being released and signed by Real Salt Lake. Again, he failed to make an appearance for the MLS side before signing with the Austin Aztec of the NASL. He is still under contract with the Aztec, who now competes in the USL, but is currently on hiatus as they attempt to resolve issues with their stadium.
2010 – FC Dallas selects forward Andrew Wiedeman from Cal-Berkeley.
The former Toronto FC player appeared in 44 games across six seasons, while scoring four goals. The native of Oakland, California now applies his trade with FC Cincinnati of the USL. He appeared in 30 games for the MLS expansion hopefuls, scoring seven goals.
Other notable players selected with the 21st overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft include former Reds Milos Kocic (2009) and Jacob Peterson (2007). Peterson has made 246 career MLS appearances and just signed with Atlanta United as a free agent. Ely Allen (2008), James Riley (2005), Zack Wells (2004), and Nick Downing (2001) all played at least 10 games in MLS. Current New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch was selected 21st in 1996.
The 21st overall selection has produced players with varying levels of MLS success, but as Peterson and Wiedeman prove, teams can find talent at this point in the draft. It will now be up to Tim Bezbatchenko and his staff to see what pick number 21 yields for Toronto FC.
