Colorado Rapids Protect 12 Players Ahead of 2021 MLS Expansion Draft

Published on December 13, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - The Colorado Rapids today announced the club's list of 12 protected players ahead of the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday, December 14.

Protected Players:

Goalkeepers (1): William Yarbrough

Defenders (4): Lalas Abubakar, Lucas Esteves, Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson

Midfielders (4): Kellyn Acosta, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Jack Price, Braian Galván

Forwards (3): Jonathan Lewis, Michael Barrios, Andre Shinyashiki

Homegrown Players Automatically Protected:

Goalkeepers (1): Abraham Rodriguez

Defenders (4): Sebastian Anderson, Michael Edwards, Kortne Ford, Auston Trusty

Midfielders (3): Cole Bassett, Oliver Larraz, Philip Mayaka

Forwards (3): Matt Hundley, Dantouma "Yaya" Touré, Darren Yapi

Players Available for Selection:

Goalkeepers (2): Clint Irwin, Andre Rawls

Defenders (3: Steven Beitashour, Jeremy Kelly, Drew Moor

Midfielders (3): Nicolás Mezquida, Younes Namli, Collen Warner

Forwards (2): Dominique Badji, Diego Rubio

The MLS Expansion Draft allows 2022 league newcomer Charlotte FC to build its inaugural roster by drafting up to five players from the eligible player list.

Each MLS club may protect a total of 12 players from their roster. Generation adidas players who were not graduated at the end of the 2021 MLS season and Homegrown Players aged 25 years and younger are automatically protected from selection. Designated Players are not automatically protected. Once a player has been claimed from a club's list of eligible players, Charlotte FC may no longer select players from that club's list. Clubs that have a player selected will receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money.

The following clubs are exempt from having players selected because they had a player selected in the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft: San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, Nashville SC, LA Galaxy, Orlando City SC.

Major League Soccer Stories from December 13, 2021

• Major League Soccer to Announce 2022 MLS Schedule on December 15 - Inter Miami CF
• Academy Update: Facing Local All-Stars and Discovery Program Standouts - Inter Miami CF
• New York City FC Submit Protected List for 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - New York City FC
• LAFC Announces Protected Players Ahead of 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Los Angeles FC
• Eligible Player Lists Revealed as Charlotte FC to Select up to Five Players this Tuesday in 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Portland Timbers
• Whitecaps FC Reveal Protected Player List for Tuesday's MLS Expansion Draft - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Colorado Rapids Protect 12 Players Ahead of 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Colorado Rapids
• Philadelphia Union Announce Protected List for 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Philadelphia Union
• CF Montréal Protects 12 Players Ahead of Expansion Draft - Club de Foot Montreal
• Sporting KC Protects 12 Players Ahead of MLS Expansion Draft - Sporting Kansas City
• Chicago Fire FC Announce Protected Players in Advance of 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Chicago Fire FC
• Austin FC Announce List of Protected Players Ahead of 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Austin FC
• FC Dallas Announces Its 12 Protected Players Ahead of 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - FC Dallas
• Eligible Player Lists Revealed as Charlotte FC to Select up to Five Players this Tuesday in 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - MLS
• FC Cincinnati Protect 12 Players Ahead of Expansion Draft - FC Cincinnati
• MLS and D.C. United Announce Eligible Player List for the 2022 MLS Expansion Draft - D.C. United
• Inter Miami CF Announces Protected List for 2021 MLS Expansion Draft - Inter Miami CF
• New York City FC Re-Signs Héber, Nicolás Acevedo and Gedion Zelalem - New York City FC
• New York City FC Announces Roster Moves for 2022 - New York City FC
• Charlotte FC Announce Jaime Moreno and Antonio Ramos as Spanish-Language Broadcast Team - Charlotte FC
• Eduard Atuesta to Join Brazilian Club Palmeiras - Los Angeles FC
• Charlotte FC's Roster Going into the Expansion Draft - Charlotte FC
• Chicago Fire FC Sign Midfielder Gastón Giménez to New Contract - Chicago Fire FC
• New York City Football Club Announces City Hall Ceremony to Celebrate MLS Cup - New York City FC
• Real Salt Lake Names Pablo Mastroeni Permanent Head Coach - Real Salt Lake
• Timbers Announce Roster Status Ahead of 2022 MLS Season - Portland Timbers
• Austin FC and Q2 Announce Inaugural Q-mmunity Gives Program Grant Recipients - Austin FC
• Sporting KC Re-Signs Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh - Sporting Kansas City
• Charlotte FC Signs Brazilian Forward Vinicius Mello - Charlotte FC
• Vinicius Mello Is a 'Connector' with Loads of Potential - Charlotte FC
• Chicago Fire FC Transfer Forward Ignacio Aliseda to FC Lugano - Chicago Fire FC

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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