Real Salt Lake holds the 10th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. General Manager Craig Waibel has built a deep squad stacked with young talent that is consistently competing for playing time and starting positions. So whoever hears their name called with the 10th selection will have an opportunity to play, but will have to earn it.
Over the years, the No. 10 pick has produced some solid professionals and starters on MLS Cup winners.
Here is a look at the No. 10 picks from the last 10 SuperDrafts.
2008 – Toronto FC, Pat Phelan – The Wake Forest midfielder was traded to New England, where he played four seasons before spending 2012 abroad in Finland. He returned stateside in 2013 with the San Antonio Scorpions, but retired following the 2013 season. MLS stats: 80 GP, 58 GS, 2 G, 4 A.
2009 – New England Revolution, Kevin Alston – A defender from Indiana, Alston played seven seasons in New England before going to Orlando City following the 2015 season. He played two seasons in Florida and is currently a free agent. MLS stats: 172 GP, 157 GS, 1 G, 7 A.
2010 – Chivas USA, Blair Gavin – The midfielder from Akron played for six clubs in an eight-year pro career, including Chivas USA, the New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC in MLS. He retired following the 2017 season and is now an assistant coach with Phoenix Rising. MLS stats: 45 GP, 32 GS, 3 G, 5 A.
2011 – Sporting Kansas City, CJ Sapong – After his college career at James Madison, Sapong has been a consistent goalscorer throughout his seven MLS seasons, breaking out for 16 goals in 2017 with the Philadelphia Union. He played four seasons with KC and is entering his fourth season with Philadelphia. He is currently at the U.S. National Team’s January camp. MLS stats: 201 GP, 148 GS, 52 G, 20 A.
2012 – Columbus Crew SC, Ethan Finlay – After two seasons of development, the winger from Creighton exploded with 11 goals and seven assists in 2014. He followed that up with 12 goals and 13 assists and an MLS Best XI selection in 2015. Midway through the 2017 season he was traded to Minnesota United. MLS stats: 161 GP, 113 GS, 33 G, 33 A.
2013 – Seattle Sounders FC, Eriq Zavaleta – Seattle traded into the No. 10 spot to draft Zavaleta, who came to the Sounders as a forward from Indiana. He played the 2014 season on loan to Chivas USA, where he made the move to center back. Now with Toronto FC, he’s been a regular starter for the last two seasons, in which TFC has reached the MLS Cup final both years. MLS stats: 84 GP, 67 GS, 2 G, 1 A.
2014 – Toronto FC, Nick Hagglund – A defender from Xavier, Hagglund played alongside Zavaleta on TFC’s back line and helped the Reds to two straight MLS Cup finals, winning in 2017. MLS stats: 68 GP, 52 GS, 2 G, 4 A.
2015 – Sporting Kansas City, Connor Hallisey – He had two solid seasons with SKC but did not return in 2017. MLS stats: 30 GP, 18 GS, 0 G, 2 A.
2016 – New England Revolution, Jordan McCrary – A defender from North Carolina, McCrary didn’t make an appearance for New England in 2016 and now plays for Toronto FC II in the USL. MLS stats: 0 GP, 0 GS, 0 G, 0 A.
2017 – Houston Dynamo, Joe Holland – The midfielder from Hofstra played five matches for the Dynamo and also scored four goals in 13 matches for Rio Grande Valley in the USL. MLS stats: 5 GP, 0 GS, 0 G, 0 A.
