It wasn’t exactly a banner year for Seattle Sounders newcomers, but Xavier Arreaga appears to be a keeper after a rough start. That’s why our readers named him the 2019 Sounder at Heart Newcomer of the Year with 62.5% of the vote. The 2019 Young Player of the Year, Danny Leyva, grabbed nearly 23%, and returnee Joevin Jones also managed to earn just over 12% of the vote.
Arreaga was signed in May as the long-term replacement for Chad Marshall. His status as a Designated Player meant there would be expectations for him to play, but he was coming into a team that already had The Greatest Centerback in MLS History, and two international-caliber CBs on TAM contracts.