Julian Gressel, the former Providence College standout, was named the 2017 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, winning the award his first professional season with Atlanta United.
Major League Soccer announced that the 23-year-old received 54-percent of votes for the award, dominating the player, media and club votes.
Gressel, who was drafted eighth overall in the MLS SuperDraft last year, appeared in 32 games and made 24 starts this season. The midfielder scored five goals and added nine assists in his debut campaign. His nine assists are the third most in MLS history by a rookie.