All-Star week is in full swing with the league’s finest on display in Chicago including MLS’s best young players showcasing their talents at the MLS Homegrown Game on Tuesday evening. On Monday afternoon Real Salt Lake midfielder Jose Hernandez was named to the roster for the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game, joining teammates Justen Glad and Brooks Lennon on this year’s roster.
“I am definitely thankful and it’s a good opportunity for me and for all the guys that are out there,” Hernandez said prior to suiting up for the Real Monarch’s matchup against the Tulsa Roughnecks. Ahead of the Homegrown game, Hernandez came on as a second half substitute against Tulsa, playing the final 30 minutes of the match.
Having appeared in four matches for RSL in 2017, Hernandez has logged 160 total minutes with one goal to his name, a stoppage-time tally against the San Jose Earthquakes in late June. Pairing that with five outings and two goals for the Monarchs this season, Hernandez has begun his professional tenure positively. Being a rookie in Major League Soccer, Hernandez has room to grow and knowing that time is on his side has added a different dimension to his game.
“It is all a step-by-step basis so I’m getting used to it,” Hernandez said. “I’m adjusting to it and I’m enjoying the process.”
Adding to the club’s impressive record of placing at least one player on the Homegrown roster every year since the 2014 season, Hernandez finds himself in strong company on this year’s roster: (Carlos Salcedo, 2014), (Justen Glad, 2015-17), (Danilo Acosta, 2016), (Phanuel Kavita, 2016), (Jordan Allen, 2016), Brooks Lennon (2017).
“It speaks very highly of [RSL]. I think RSL has always been one of the top clubs in developing players,” Hernandez praised. “They invest in their academy. It’s proven we have guys on national teams, here on homegrown, I think there should have been more guys on this team.”
At 5-foot-5 the RSL rookie rose to prominence through the RSL Academy ranks in Arizona before taking his talents to UCLA where he earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2015 and Pac-12 Co-Player of the Year in 2016.
His RSL teammates were proud to have a third member join the ranks.
“It’s great having Jose come in. It’s good for the club and hopefully we can keep that going for years to come,” said Lennon.
Added Glad, “I was stoked. He’s a phenomenal player and he really deserves it. I can’t wait for him to get out here.”
You can catch Hernandez, Glad and Lennon in the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game Tuesday at 6:00 pm MST on MLS Live as they take on the Chivas de Guadalajara U-20s at Toyota Park.
