David Mateos was expected to start for Orlando City this season, until a hamstring injury derailed those plans.
The Spanish centerback joined the Lions last summer and immediately contributed, starting six of the club's final 10 games. After working hard in the offseason, Mateos was a presumed starter for 2016. Days before Orlando City's season opener, though, he went down at training with a hamstring injury that took weeks to heal.
In his absence, 19-year-old Oviedo native Tommy Redding shined. Even after Mateos healed, Redding and Seb Hines were the go-to centerbacks for Orlando City coach Adrian Heath.