Finally Some Preseason News

After a week of nothing out of Commerce City we got two announcements yesterday.  The first was that Colorado re-signed Michael Edwards,  Edwards was the homegrown defender we acquired from DC last year and who spent the season with Rapids 2 and the Switchbacks.  He's been re-signed for 2 seasons.  I don't expect him to have a significant impact on the 2023 season.

The other thing we got was a list of trialists that travelled to MExico with the team.  Looking at this list I'm not sure any will make the team, but there are some possibilities.

From Rapids 2:

M Daniel Chacon - Chacon was signed by Rapids 2 in the middle of last season and immediately loaned back to his Costa Rican team in preparation for the World Cup.  It seemed to work as he was on the plane to Qatar and got one appearance, the final minute in the Ticos win against Japan.  If any trialist is likely to make the final roster I think its Chacon but it still feels like a bit of a long shot.

M Yosuke Hanya - Hanya is a winger who played a similar role for Rapids 2 as Lewis plays for the senior team.  Fast, nose for goal, still has some things to work on.  I'm hopeful he turns into something long-term but I don't see it in 2023.

M Marlon Vargas - Just signed by Rapids 2 this week from Tacoma Defiance.  I know very little about him but I doubt he would have signed a MLS NEXT contract if there was a realistic shot at a MLS deal.

From Rapids Academy:

M Robinson Aguirre - Aguirre just turned 18 after Thanksgiving but was already a regular for Rapids 2 last season and has appeared for El Salvador.  Another young midfielder with potential.

GK Adam Beaudry - Beaudry isn't in Mexico yet, having been called up for the U.S.'s U-17 camp, but will join the team there.  He could be competing for the 3rd GK spot with draftee Semmle but he feels a bit young to make that jump from the Academy to the first team this year.

D Daniel Garcia - 18 year old Garcia has been in the Academy since his U-12 days.  He appeared in about half the Rapids 2 games last season, which isn't the most convincing track record to move up yet.

Other trialists:

D Ismaila Jome - Jome is already a bit of a journeyman at 28, having played for everyone from the Ventura County to Minnesota United.  He appeared the most for the Switchbacks in 2019 with 34 appearances, after which he spent a season with the Austin Bold and two seasons with Timbers/Timbers 2.  This is actually not his first appearance in a Rapids uniform (hat-tip to Joseph Samelson on this) as he was one of the Switchbacks "loaned" to the Rapids for the Arsenal friendly in 2019 where he came off the bench.  If Chacon doesn't make the move up Jome is the only other player I think might get signed.

GK Oliver Semmle - Our second round draft pick, he'll be looking to claim the 3rd goalkeeper spot behind Yarbrough and Rodriguez.  Though from what I hear its a big hill to climb.

So here's our full camp roster, with roster designations noted where I know them.  Unsigned players in italics:

Goalkeepers:

Abe Rodriguez - Homegrown

William Yarbrough

Oliver Semmle - Draftee

Adam Beaudry - Academy

Defenders:

Lalas Abubakar

Seb Anderson - Homegrown

Steven Beitashour

Moise Bombito - Generation Adidas, International

Michael Edwards - Homegrown

Aboubacar Keita - Homegrown

Anthony Markanich

Keegan Rosenberry

Jackson Travis - Homegrown

Gustavo Vallecilla - U22 Initiative, International

Danny Wilson - International

Daniel Garcia - Academy

Ismaila Jome

Midfielders:

Bryan Acosta

Max - U22 Initiative, International

Cole Bassett - Homegrown

Braian Galvan - International

Oliver Larraz - Homegrown

Sam Nicholson - International

Jack Price - International

Ralph Priso - Homegrown

Daniel Chacon - Rapids 2

Yosuke Hanya - Rapids 2

Marlon Vargas - Rapids 2

Robinson Aguirre - Academy

Forwards:

Michael Barrios

Kevin Cabral

Calvin Harris - Generation Adidas

Jonathan Lewis

Diego Rubio

Darren Yapi - Homegrown