With three picks in the first round and five selections in the first two rounds, the 2015 MLS SuperDraft is a major event for Toronto FC.

That was the sentiment echoed by general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and head coach Greg Vanney in late December.

Building through the draft isn’t something TFC has done in prior years, but it’s certainly a focal point now.

“TFC has had a number of draft picks over the years,” Bezbatchenko said. “For a variety of reasons they were either traded away or lost through various mechanisms.”

“We would like to try and build through the draft,” the GM continued, and there are early results to show for it.

Nick Hagglund and Daniel Lovitz, both selected in the 2014 SuperDraft, played big roles for TFC last season. Along with Kyle Bekker, the trio form what the braintrust in Toronto hopes is a core group of drafted players.

The scouting process is obviously a big factor in the leadup to the Draft. With picks six, nine and eleven in the first round, the Reds hold the keys to the proverbial car. Greg Vanney discussed the makeup of his scouting team and his thought process heading into Philadelphia.

“In August, just prior to the NCAA season, we started to build our scouting department,” Vanney said.

“We identified ground scouts throughout the United States. We’ve accumulated hundreds if not thousands of reports on players. We’ve created positional depth charts.”

With five picks and a USL Pro team on the horizon, a selection cannot be wasted.

“It’s important for us to get the most out of our five draft picks in order to build our team for the future,” continued Vanney.

In terms of trends, the Reds’ boss pointed to defenders and their ability to transition from the college game to the pro ranks. Simply put, there’s less of an adjustment. With that said, there is quality at a number of positions.

“You try to find guys in the position you need,” Vanney said. “Sometimes you go with the best player, depending on how high the pick is.”

Strategy will be key. “This year provides a unique opportunity to shape our roster not just for next year, but for multiple years,” said Bezbatchenko.

“Most successful teams (in MLS) have a number of drafted players on their roster. TFC is one of the few teams that only has a few. What I would like to do over the next three to five years is double the number of players that come out of the MLS SuperDraft.”

There is a chance trades will happen. Scratch that: trades will happen in Philadelphia. Whether TFC is involved remains to be seen.

“If a team comes to us with a proposal we will consider that.” Bezbatchenko said.

All in all these are exciting times for the draftniks that have been waiting for January 15th to roll around.