Seb Hines was brought in for Orlando City’s inaugural MLS season in 2015, where he was a mainstay on the back line with 23 games, starting 21. After a 2016 season that saw him play 26 games and start 23, Hines found himself on the outside looking in on Jason Kreis’ starting lineup, as the second-year Lions head coach favored newly acquired Jonathan Spector and Léo Pereira, as well as José Aja and Tommy Redding.
After being an unused sub for the first team on March 5 against New York City FC, Hines underwent knee surgery on March 9 and missed six weeks.