Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you followed SBI's pre-draft coverage as well as the 2009 MLS Draft, you knew that this year's rookie class had the chance to be a special one. As we sit half-way through the season, it isn't a stretch to say that this year's rookie crop is off to a flying start.
A total of eleven rookies have started ten or more matches this year, with several players establishing key roles on top teams. This isn't just a case of rookies coming in and playing on bad teams (well, for a few it does). In fact, seven of the eleven rookies with ten or more starts play on winning teams.
Whether it is the D.C. tandem of Chris Pontius and Rodney Wallace, or the Toronto FC dynamic duo of Stefan Frei and Sam Cronin, MLS has received a major infusion of young talent at a time when the league sorely needed it.
Here is a look at SBI's mid-season All-Rookie XI
SBI Mid-Season All-Rookie XI
-------------------Chris Pontius-------Steve Zakuani-------------------
Rodney Wallace--------------------------------------------A.J. Delagarza
--------------------Sam Cronin------Nick Zimmerman------------------
Matt Besler------Omar Gonzalez----Darrius Barnes-----Kevin Alston
-------------------------------Stefan Frei---------------------------------
LA defender A.J. DeLaGarza New York Red Bulls rookie Jeremy Hall gets the honorable mention nod. He is the lone member of the ten-start rookie club not to make this group (I originally had him in ahead of Delagarza, but Hall's form the past month or so has really dipped while Delagarza has played well for LA). Red Bulls rookie Nick Zimmerman, one of the few bright spots in a terrible season, gets the nod ahead of his teammate (and roommate). The other ten selections all have made at least ten starts for their teams. (And please don't get caught up in positions for this group. It obviously wasn't a perfect fit in terms of fielding an actual team, so no, Jeremy Hall hasn't played RM, at least not yet.)
So what does the MLS Rookie of the Year race look like? Here's the SBI Top Five in that race right now:
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1. Chris Pontius
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2. Stefan Frei
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3. Sam Cronin
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4. Rodney Wallace
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T5. Steve Zakuani
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T5. Omar Gonzalez
It's a two-horse race right now between Pontius and Frei, with Frei enjoying the momentum heading into the second half. Pontius' production has slowed some, but he's still so versatile and key to D.C. United's attack. Frei has emerged as one of the better goalkeepers in the East as a rookie.
I'm sure Seattle fans will insist that Zakuani should be at or near the top of the list. In most years he would be, and while he's arguably the flashiest player in this group, this is a loaded group with every player commanding a key role on a good team. And yes, Omar Gonzalez has entered the conversation. He's the only rookie to start every game for his team this year and he's been a steady centerback for an LA team enjoying a surprisingly strong season. Darrius Barnes was in the conversation at the quarter pole, and could still fight his way back into the picture.
What do you think of this year's rookie class so far? Which players have impressed you? Surprised you? Who do you see winding up as the biggest star in the bunch?
Share your thoughts below.
