The 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas is set for Thursday, Jan. 9 at 12 p.m. ET. The draft presents another roster building opportunity for the Club ahead of its inaugural campaign.
Here’s what you need to know:
Annual College Draft
The MLS SuperDraft is an annual player draft in which every MLS franchise has the opportunity to select individuals from a pool of players coming from the collegiate system. The full list of eligible players for the 2020 edition will be announced on Monday, Dec. 30.
Structure
There are four rounds in the SuperDraft; in each round each team has one pick, unless a pick has previously been traded.
Expansion teams are awarded the first picks in the draft, followed by each team that did not qualify for the previous year’s playoffs in reverse order of their total points accrued. Those teams are then followed by groups of teams that were eliminated in the same round of the playoffs, also in order of fewest points accrued in the previous regular season.
Inter Miami’s Picks
The Club currently controls both the first and third-overall picks in the draft. The team received the first pick in the SuperDraft as part of the selection process in the 2019 Expansion Priority Draft, leaving Nashville SC with the second pick.
Inter Miami acquired the third-overall pick in the draft via a trade with FC Cincinnati in exchange for $150,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The Club also controls its natural fourth round selection in the draft.
Sporting Director Paul McDonough’s Experience
Inter Miami CF Sporting Director Paul McDonough has a track record of success in the SuperDraft. With Orlando City SC, he selected Cyle Larin who went on to spend three seasons with the club, appearing in 87 games and scoring 43 goals and earning the 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year award.
With Atlanta United, McDonough selected both Julian Gressel and Miles Robinson. Gressel has played for the club for three seasons, making 98 appearances, scoring 15 goals and registering 35 assists. He also won MLS Rookie of the Year honors in 2017.
Robinson has also spent three seasons with the club, breaking through during the 2019 season with 34 appearances, 33 coming as a starter.
Both players helped guide Atlanta to the 2018 MLS Cup title.
Where to Watch
The draft will be streamed live on Twitter, Youtube, Facebook and the ESPN app, as the show will be jointly produced by the MLS and ESPN. The broadcast will give fans a live look at players and club staff members as the draft unfolds.
