Opening day is here! Who's left?

Now that opening day is upon us and MLS has updated the team rosters on their website we can see which of our rookies has made it through the hell of two a day pre-season practices. This analysis is based on the information posted on the MLS website in the players section. All of my analysis assumes this list is up to date and correct. Unfortunately I don't have any inside information not available to the rest of you. I'm just good with MS Excel.

To start with, there are 86 players listed on the MLS website as rookies, or players with no previous MLS experience. Now, not all of these players are rookies in the traditional sense. For example, Bouna Coundoul is listed as a rookie but he was on the Rapids developmental squad last season. Either MLS has an error or he didn't really count as a player on the team last year. Additionally, new players to the league are listed as rookies. So Claudio Suarez, the 37 year old Mexican legend, is included in that above number. I have not gone through the list of rookies to take these players out because there could be a young American who went from college to the USL, or another league around the world, and has just joined MLS. 34 players fit into the category of previous soccer experience but no MLS experience.

So, we've got the list of 86 players. 34 of them did not enter the league through a draft, 52 of them did. 41 SuperDraft players have earned contracts and 11 Supplemental draftees have earned contracts. For the young up and coming player it is obviously better to go in the SuperDraft, after all 85% of the players drafted are still on the league roster. Meanwhile, only 23% of the Supplemental picks have earned contracts. You've got to think the coaches are doing something right if they are picking most of their new players in the first four rounds.

SuperDraft pick number 22, Dominic Oduro out of Virginia Commonwealth University, has the dubious distinction of being the first picked in the SuperDraft without earning a contract. Now, there is a chance he decided to go after another opportunity. I don't know. None the less, he doesn't have a roster spot in MLS at this point.

So who was the lowest selection to earn a spot? Supplemental pick number 43, Devon McTavish wins that award. He's just excited to be here.

After this weekend it'll be interesting to see who starts out of this group. Who scores a goal. Who even makes the bench squad. We'll look at that Monday. Until then, enjoy MLS opening weekend and keep your eyes open for the rookies!