MLS released its list of protected and unprotected players for Tuesday’s MLS Expansion Draft and Orlando City gave us few surprises.
However, one choice that raises eyebrows is the availability of prize prospect Pierre Da Silva. The midfielder is the first player to come up through the academy, play for the reserve side in the USL, and appear in an MLS match. Da Silva was signed to an MLS contract less than a year ago.
Each MLS team can protect 11 players from selection by incoming expansion side LAFC. Generation Adidas players who have not yet graduated from the program and Homegrown Players on the club’s supplemental roster are exempt from selection automatically and do not need to be protected.