From college draft picks to highly rated academy prospects, here are the young players who have made an early impact in their debut MLS season.

Obafemi Awodesu, Houston Dynamo

Awodesu is the prime example of the importance of a competent MLS Next Pro setup. The former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State went undrafted in 2024 but was picked up by Dynamo II, later leading the entire MLS Next Pro in regular season minutes in 2024. That developmental platform has worked a treat for a 23-year-old center-back who has played every minute of the MLS season thus far.

Jacob Bartlett, Sporting KC

A season at Notre Dame was all it took for Sporting KC to offer Bartlett a well-deserved Homegrown contract. The Kansas City native then took to the opportunity by winning the beep test in the preseason, followed by two starts against Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions League, capped off by an assist in the second leg. It is no surprise he has taken to the pressure well as the latest in a soccer-famed family that includes Lucas, a staple in the D.C. United backline, Alec, a former professional player, and Grace, a junior with the Grand Canyon women’s soccer team. Sporting KC has again struggled as they did last season, but the young center midfielder offers real hope for the future.

Luca Bombino, San Diego FC

San Diego FC took a gamble on Bombino when they acquired his loan rights from LAFC in exchange for an international spot, considering he had only played in the MLS Next Pro. That decision looks prudent, with the California native breaking into the starting lineup at left back. The 18-year-old looks to be a potential lock for the U.S. U20 World Cup roster in September.

Nico Cavallo, NYCFC

With 75 professional starts to his name across seasons at Davidson at UCLA, Cavallo was more pro-ready than most when NYCFC selected him in the third round of the 2025 draft. The versatile 23-year-old defender has since made three appearances, including one start, out of four matches for one of the best franchises in the league. 

Stefan Chirila, FC Cincinnati

The 18-year-old striker has only played one MLS minute, but his 50 in the Concacaf Champions League suggests more playing time in the future. Chirila first turned heads last season as the U17 MLS Next MVP after leading the country with 40 goals. He recently accepted a call-up with the Romanian youth national team, suggesting an international battle could be brewing.  

Joran Gerbet, Orlando City

Anyone who watched college soccer over the last few years will tell you Gerbet was guaranteed to play professionally. His age, 23, plus international status, dropped the former Clemson and Oregon State star to the 27th pick of the first round, but he was firmly among the best prospects available. The holding midfielder recently played the full 90 in a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls, displaying the same tactical intelligence and composure that made him a guiding force to an NCAA championship team.

Tate Johnson, Vancouver Whitecaps

Johnson, a one-and-done prospect, only needed one season with the North Carolina Tar Heels to earn a first-round selection by the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Florida native has since made three appearances for the Canadian side, highlighted by a well-taken goal on his MLS debut. As a full-back with endless energy and elite tactical intelligence, Johnson could soon earn his first youth national team cap.

Tate Johnson with the smooth finish to double the @WhitecapsFC lead! pic.twitter.com/DbqvJp2Lqs

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 9, 2025

Beau Leroux, San Jose Earthquakes

It took some time for Leroux to get his moment, but the 2024 MLS Draft pick has shined for the Earthquakes after spending last season in the MLS Next Pro. The 21-year-old former San Jose State star has played at least 45 minutes in every game, providing the midfield presence desperately needed for a team that finished bottom of the league by a ten-point margin.

Wyatt Meyer, Nashville SC

Meyer is the first successful test case of the MLS ruling that allowed draft picks to return to college starting in 2024. The center back/holding midfielder was selected by Nashville, went back to California for a season, and has returned a prospect worthy of starting two of the first four games of his rookie campaign.

Harbor Miller, LA Galaxy

A highly touted fullback, the 17-year-old has quickly become the story of the early MLS season with five appearances and four starts for the defending champions. Many will remember that the USYNT stat first burst onto the scene as the MVP of the U17 Generation Adidas Cup in 2023, highlighting a prospect who has continued his rapid development. It is still early, but Miller is putting himself in the running for a senior national team call-up sooner rather than later.

MILLER TO GABRIEL PEC! 3-0 Galaxy 💪 pic.twitter.com/LreYBMHHxc

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 13, 2025

Jansen Miller, Sporting KC

There was a feeling Miller could feature right away in the MLS after an impressive collegiate career that spanned 77 appearances and 66 starts for Xavier and Indiana. After battling injury, the Missouri native debuted at center back against DC United and looked likely to remain part of the rotation.

Ian Pilcher, San Diego FC

Pilcher looks to be a first-round pick well spent for San Diego FC, with three substitute appearances in the backline for the new franchise that has started undefeated through four matches. The same defensive instincts that led to a standout collegiate career with Charlotte have translated well to the MLS level.

Ian. Patrick. Pilcher. pic.twitter.com/TIxegJYA1c

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 9, 2025

Jonathan Shore, NYCFC

For context on how impressive Shore has been, consider that the 17-year-old midfielder was named Man of the Match in his first MLS start. That was against Orlando City, and the NYCFC academy product started the following game versus the New England Revolution, highlighting one of the best young prospects in the country.

Woke up thinking about Jonny's masterclass 👏 pic.twitter.com/r030u1NPS1

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) March 9, 2025

Ian Smith, Portland Timbers

If you watched Denver over the last few seasons, it was clear they would produce at least one, if not several, MLS starters due to a pro-ready tactical style and several individual stars. Smith is the first, as the Colorado native has already played the full 90 in two starts at center back for the Timbers.

Sam Williams, Chicago Fire

His play often went unnoticed as an exceptional holding midfielder in the stats-obsessed NCAA soccer world, but the former North Carolina standout has quickly found his footing in the MLS. The New Jersey native has already started once and made three appearances out of four for a Chicago Fire team intent on making amends for a poor 2024 campaign. Originally signed to the Chicago Fire MLS NEXT Pro team, he's already been bumped up to a Homegrown deal after the Fire traded for his rights from New York Red Bulls.

Frankie Westfield, Philadelphia Union

The Westfield rise has been gradual, going from academy star to 74 MLS Next Pro appearances and now first-team regular. The 19-year-old has started all four games of the season as an athletic right back capable of holding his own on both sides of the ball. Breaking into the U20 World Cup roster is the next goal, which now looks more plausible.

64' | GOAL TAI BARIBO!

Fantastic ball forward initially by Frankie Westfield, who continues his run forward. He receives the ball back, and registers his first career MLS assist to Baribo who has a brace.

📹 MLS/Apple

Orlando 1-4 Philadelphia#Doop pic.twitter.com/xHj9IQ0rCd

— The Free Kick (@FreeKickPod) February 23, 2025

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