MLS Next Pro is heading into its second season, with the continued goal of providing a new pathway to the pros for younger players and coaches alike. Red Bull often used their second team to get their promising academy players and draft picks. Players such as Tyler Adams, Sean Davis, Derrick Etienne Jr, JMi, Daniel Edelman, and Sean Nealis, all got their first taste of professional soccer at Red Bull II.
Red Bull II or the “Baby Bulls”, will be looking to start a new in this new league after departing the USL Championship on a sour note.
2022 Recap
It was a dismal season for Red Bull II in the USL Championship last season. Red Bull finished dead last with just three wins and 15 points in 34 games last season.
Last season, the II’s were set up to fail from the beginning, based on the roster that was constructed. The oldest player to be on the roster for the full season was 22. Again, Red Bull II was the worst team in USL, scoring only 24 goals while allowing 76. Last season was rock bottom for the team that had been on the decline since 2020.
2023 Preview
Departures
Red Bull II saw a lot of turnover from last season heading into 2023. Top goal scorer Jordan Adebayo-Smith (7G, 3A in 33 GP) was not retained. Other mainstays like John Murphy, Jonathan Filipe, Daniel De Leon, and Michael Knapp were released.
Along with Adebayo-Smith, strikers Zach Ryan (1G in 12 GP) and Stiven Plaza (1G in 7 GP) were also not re-signed. Red Bull also didn’t exercise young midfield playmaker Jesus Castellano, who disappointed, producing just 1 goal in 21 games
The biggest loss for Red Bull II will be starlet midfield prospect Nate Worth. Worth rejected a homegrown contract from Red Bull this winter, deciding to go play for USL side FC Tulsa on a two-year deal. The deal will allow Nate to head straight to Europe once he turns 18 years of age.
New Faces (Highlights)
Coming into this new season the II’s will have a lot of new faces. Here are the “officially” signed players for Red Bull II in 2023:
- Oladayo Thomas, ST, Santa Clara (NCAA)
- Frank Ssebuufu, ST, Wakiso Giants FC (Uganda)
- Ricardo Gorday, AM, Tauro II (Panama)
- Amos Shapiro-Thompson, CM, Boston College (NCAA)
- Dylan Sullivan, CDM, Clemson (NCAA)
- Will Meyer, GK, Nashville SC (MLS)
Red Bull II also returns Omar Valencia, and Yostin Salinas’s loans were extended while Henry Wise and O’Vonte Mullings were the only two players from last year’s roster signed to new Red Bull II deals this offseason.
With the move to MLS Next PRO, new roster regulations will allow more academy players to be included in game-day rosters going forward. Per source and based on who was at training, here are the main players from the Red Bull academy that will be playing with Red Bull II.
- Davi Alexandre, CB, 07′
- Bento Estrela, AM/CM, 06′
- Erick Ruiz, CM/RM/RB, 05′
- Arian Recinos, CB/LB, 05′
- Aidan Stokes, GK, 08′
*This is subject to change throughout the season*
Ones to Watch
#89 Davi Alexandre
In 2022, Alexandre became the fourth youngest player to appear in a Red Bull II match in club history. In total the Brazilian-American made six appearances (284’), starting three, as a 15-year-old.
Now just 16, Alexandre is set to be a potential starting center-back heading into the season with both Hassan Ndam and Matthew Nocita playing with the first team. With a full season of pro minutes under his belt in 2023, Davi should see a home-grown deal coming his way sooner rather than later.
#24 Curtis Ofori
Last season was a big year for Curtis Ofori on the field, making 27 appearances for the baby bulls. Ofori was able to make 27 appearances last season, playing just shy of 1900’ in total (1892′). His play in 2022 and potential going forward earned him a home-grown contract.
This season Ofori will look to boost his offensive output. In 2022 from mainly a left-back position he contributed 0 G/A. Ofori has the physical attributes to get forward.
Now it’s up to him to make a conscious decision to get up into the attacking third, pump balls into the box, and shoot whenever given the opportunity. Red Bull needs to see a more aggressive Curtis Ofori in 2023 for him to take that next step to the first team and be the heir to JMi at left back in 2024.
#97 Frank Ssebuufu
The first of the new faces that appears on this list is the newly signed striker from Uganda, Frank Ssebuufu. With not much tape on the internet, Ssebuufu will be a mystery of a player until we see him on the pitch.
With Adebayo-Smith leaving the club this offseason, Ssebuufu seems to be set up as one of the main targets up top for the II’s alongside Oladayo Thomas. Current Red Bull II manager and former Ugandan national team player Ibrahim Sekagya personally scouted Ssebuufu in Uganda and got this deal over the line, just before the season started this weekend.
“Frank has many skills that he can bring to the table and will be a great piece within the squad.” Sekagya sees something in this young man. For that sole reason, Ssebuufu’s development stateside will be one to watch throughout the entirety of the season.
#92 Erick Ruiz
2022 saw a meteoric rise for Red Bull academy product Erick Ruiz. Ruiz became the first pre-academy graduate to play in a game for Red Bull II. In total the Colombian American saw the field 11 times accumulating 654’ all over the field under manager Ibrahim Sekagya.
Ruiz has the potential to be a utility player for Red Bull with the first team. Imagine how Kevin Grosskreutz played for Borussia Dortmund when they won back-to-back titles in the early part of last decade. Ruiz is a natural right-sided midfielder but will play anywhere the coach puts him on the pitch.
Heading into his first full pro season, Ruiz will hopefully be involved more offensively. Erick didn’t provide an assist or find the back of the net last season, but he would frequently find himself in spots to be dangerous going forward. The next step for Ruiz is to add that “final ball” to his game.
Praised for his “maturity, humbleness and commitment to improving the players around him”, Erick is a natural-born leader and potential future captain for the II’s. 2023 could turn out to be a breakout season for the former pre-academy star.
#80 Ricardo Gorday
Joining fellow Panama U20 teammate Omar Valencia at Red Bull II is attacking midfielder Ricardo Gorday. A straight swap for Jesus Castellano from last season, Gorday will look to make a much bigger impact on Red Bull offensively.
Already making his presence felt, scoring against USL side Loudoun United in the preseason, Gorday joins Red Bull from Panamanian side Tauro FC.
If Gorday is what Red Bull is advertising, fans at MSU will fall in love with the creativity and speed that the young Panamanian will bring to the game. This type of player is what Red Bull II desperately missed in 2022. Can’t wait to see Gorday in action Sunday night.
Honorable Mentions
- #88 O’Vonte Mullings (Will Mullings prove that he is a first-team player after 2023?)
- #91 Bento Estrela (Can Bento get back on track to the first team?)
- Aidan Stokes (Professional Debut?)
Predictions
Heading into a league that is essentially a reserve league there are no expectations from a fan’s point of view. The goal for Red Bull II in 2023 is to get all these U21 players as many minutes as possible and try to mirror the style of play of the first team.
Fans of Red Bull will be focusing on individual performances to see if a certain player has any potential with the first team in the future and that’s the reality of the situation that is MLS Next PRO.
The players and the coaches on the pitch are still going to put their 100% effort into every game but wins and losses won’t matter as much as they did when Red Bull II was in the USL Championship, lifting the title back in 2016.
If Red Bull can end the 2023 season by identifying a handful of players that they can see transitioning into the first team in 2024, we can call this a successful season for Red Bull II.
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