Reviewing the Sounders MLS Superdraft picks for 2025!

The 2024 MLS Superdraft have come and pass with the Sounders making 3 picks that they hope will make a positive impact on the franchise. Especially since we've given away 4 total international player slots away to 2 different clubs, the new San Diego FC and New York Red Bulls within the span of 8 days. Not only placing more emphasis on the domestic transfers like Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola 2 FC Dallas players we're currently linked to. But also on developing the young players we already have in the club including the ones that we of course just drafted, so how great are there and how will they fit? That's what I've found out.

Let's go in order that's the easiest way to do things after all. So we start with our 1st round pick for the 28th pick of the draft, Ryan Baer from West Virginia University. The man from Huntersville, North Carolina has some brains on him making CSC Academic All-District Team. But of course we mostly drafted him based on soccer ability not brains so how great is he at that. While he's listed as a midfielder he's mostly on the defense side though can be a great playmaker in the clutch as he got 2 assists his senior season. 1 in a season-opening win over California Baptist and the other in the Sun Belt Championship game at Marshall. He was crucial to a defense that had 9 shutouts and allowed just 0.96 goals per game that saw him played in all 24 games with 23 starts, totaling 1,855 minutes. And was the team captain so saying he contributed a lot to the team is a understatement.

And in his junior year he earned a spot a Sun Belt Commissioner's List. And as for clutch assists well in only his freshman year he notched a pair of assists, including the game-winning helper, in March 31’s win over Western Michigan. As for how he'll fit in the team. I find it extremely interesting they drafted him on the same day that it was confirmed they'd bring back veteran Joao Paulo. And make my article saying good bye to him irrelevant. Mostly it'll be 1 of 2 options, either he and Paulo will rotate starts between each other throughout the season or Baer will be a super sub for Joao Paulo and will get frequent appearances but off the bench. Either way I'm sure Joao Paulo will play a important role as a mentor figure for the upcoming North Carolinian.

Our 2nd round pick which we selected with the 58th pick is Demian Alvarez the only person who I've ever met in anyway that shares my 1st name. He's a local while from Chico, California he went to Seattle University for 2 years and did a amazing job. Moving to Ballard FC in the USL. In 2023 after the Seattle U team that had a impressive 5 clean sheets for his impressive contribution was named Second Team All-WAC. And that wasn't the only award he earned in the 2020s. Also earning, GNAC All Conference 1st Team Fall ’s, United Soccer Coaches West Region 2nd Team: Fall ‘22, GNAC League Champion: Fall ‘21, USL 2 Champion: Summer ‘23. No doubt a psychical defender considering that his other love is wrestling. I'm sure he'll be a excellent rotation piece throughout the year and I hope he grows into a hometown hero very soon.

And with our last pick in the 3rd round with the 76th pick is the best named of the 3, sorry my namesake Trace Terry. Which sounds like the alter ego of a speedster superhero. The Bowling Green is exactly what the fans ordered, a forward. In 18 appearances all of which were starts he had a very impressive 12 goals and 5 assists 1 short of a goal contribution per game. A major improvement from his 4 goals and 6 assists in 21 games his sophomore year showing a great work ethic, determination and mindset. And for it earned many rewards and accolades, An All-American, as he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team, Named to the All-MVC First Team, Also named to the MVC's All-Tournament Team , A United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First-Team selection,
Named to the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100 list in mid-October, checking in at No. 16
,Had been named to the Preseason All-MVC Team in August, On Oct. 1, was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight week, in his 2nd year he was Named to the All-MVC Second Team and was also voted to the OCSA All-Ohio First Team. With the Sounders scoring trouble I'm sure coaches will be watching him closely and he'll get lots of opportunities to shine and will continue his impressive improvement and become a very important part of the Sounders lineup soon! Thanks a bunch for reading!