Preseason, finally

After a week of quarantine and physicals the Rapids started camp today in Commerce City.  The club announced their preseason plans, which will have the team in Colorado for the next week before heading to Tucson until the week before the season starts.  Down there they will play other MLS and USL teams in preseason friendlies to be announced at a later date.  There has been no official announcement of a preseason tournament in Arizona, but they usually have something so I'd expect there to be some sort of competition.

Along with the preseason plans the Rapids also announced there preseason roster.  While it was expected that Bassett, Lewis, Trusty, and Vines would miss most  of camp while being in the U-23 camp for the Olympic Trials (also announced today) Will Vint was also missing from the camp list, for unknown reasons.  It could just be a mistaken omission, as he's still listed on the website roster, but it seems odd it wasn't immediately fixed.

There are 5 extra names coming to camp.  Academy midfielders Oliver Larraz, Cullen 'Cam' Wilkerson, and Darren Yapi will all be taking part in preseason in Tucson.  Larraz is 19 and has been with the academy for 4 years.  I think he's likely looking for a pro contract after being passed over as a homegrown, and hoping that if he doesn't make the Rapids some other team will see/hear about him in camp.  Wilkerson is 16 and is joining the Academy this year, this might be a "get his feet wet" introduction to the pro game to give him a taste of what he's aiming for.  Yapi is only 15 but has already earned a U-17 callup and is probably the hottest prospect in the Academy.  I assume there's a contract already waiting for him when he and the team feel its right to sign it.

The other two names are very familiar to Rapids fans, Dillon Serna and Edgar Castillo.  I'm going to state this up front, I don't think either of them are under serious consideration for a roster spot on the Rapids.  I believe Serna's being given a chance to get an early start on his training for his new contract with the Switchbacks out of respect for his history with the club.  He'll get some good training in and be ready to somewhat be the face of the USL side.  they've really pushed his signing this offseason.  Castillo is looking to get back into the league at 34 years old. We know he has family in the area and I bet he probably still lives here in the offseason. He likely reached out hoping to be able to get fit and get some minutes while teams are watching, and hoping one of them gives him a shot.  He and Beitashour are the same age and backup the same position, as I don't see why the Rapids would sign a second older backup at this point.

I expect things to be fairly quiet for the next week, but if anything pops up I'll cover it.  The schedule should be released within the next 2 weeks, that should be the next big thing.