AUSTIN, Texas — Austin FC selected five more players to sign to the club's roster as a part of the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday.
According to the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft rules, Austin FC was allowed to pick one player from each of five different squads who did not have players selected in the 2019 Expansion Draft.
The 16 teams Austin FC could choose from included: Chicago Fire FC, Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Inter Miami CF, LA Galaxy, Montreal Impact, Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The club couldn't pick just anyone from those rosters, though: only players who have not been protected. Here's how that process works: the teams were allowed to protect 12 players from their Senior, Supplemental and Reserve rosters, with the rest going into the "player pool." The player pool was released by the MLS on Monday, giving soccer fans a day of speculation and excitement, wondering who the club might select.
The Expansion Draft was scheduled for 5 p.m. CST, and Austin FC live-streamed its picks online.
Here is who the team selected:
- First pick: Danny Hoesen, forward
- Second pick: Jared Stroud, midfielder
- Third pick: Brady Scott, goalkeeper
- Fourth pick: Joe Corona, midfielder
- Fifth pick: Kamal Miller, defender
After drafting Kamal Miller, Austin FC traded Miller to the Montreal Impact in exchange for $225,000 of General Allocation Monday and a First Round Draft Pick (11th) in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
These expansion draft picks come after Austin FC announced five signings on Dec. 13, during a half-day trade window.
On Dec. 13, the club announced it had signed defenders Ben Sweat, Nick Lima and Julio Cascante to the roster. Austin FC also signed midfielder Ulises Segura and forward Jon Gallagher.
You can track the team's growing roster here.
Austin FC is scheduled to make its MLS debut in spring 2021.
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