CHICAGO – FC Cincinnati bolstered its inaugural MLS squad with the addition of five new players in the club’s first MLS SuperDraft, selecting Generation adidas midfielder Frankie Amaya UCLA with the first overall pick.
The club entered the day with seven picks in the first two rounds, but finished with five selections. In a mid-draft trade, FCC acquired $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from New York Red Bulls in exchange for the No. 16 overall pick (first round) and the No. 25 overall pick (first pick, second round).
MLS SuperDraft Summary:
- Selected Generation adidas midfielder Frankie Amaya from UCLA with No. 1 pick
- Selected outside back Logan Gdula from Wake Forest with No. 13 pick
- Selected midfielder Tommy McCabe from Notre Dame with No. 29 pick
- Selected goalkeeper Jimmy Hague from Michigan State with No. 30 pick
- Selected goalkeeper Ben Lundt from University of Akron with No. 37 pick
With the first overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, FC Cincinnati selected Generation adidas midfielder Frankie Amaya. Amaya appeared in 14 games, including 10 starts, during his freshman season at UCLA. After scoring two goals and two assists for the Bruins, Amaya earned Freshman All-America, First-Team All-Pac-12, and Second-Team All-Far West Region honors. During his collegiate tenure, Amaya was called up to the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team and helped United States win the CONCACAF U-20 Tournament, ensuring a spot in the 2019 U-20 FIFA World Cup. Amaya signed a Generation Adidas contract on January 4, 2019, which made him eligible for the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. He has automatically been added to the FC Cincinnati roster.
Logan Gdula spent four seasons at Wake Forest (2015-18), playing 77 games and recording 60 starts. Gdula was a starter in all but one game during his junior and senior seasons. He was a member of the Demon Deacons’ squad that earned a runner-up finish at the 2016 College Cup after falling to Stanford University in penalties. During his last two seasons at Wake Forest, Gdula scored two goals and added 12 assists as a right back. Gdula was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week during his senior season.
Tommy McCabe played 61 games, including 60 starts, throughout three seasons at Notre Dame (2016-18). During his junior season, McCabe earned Third-Team All-ACC honors. McCabe tallied two assists during his junior season, totaling four assists during his three seasons for the Spartans. He was named to the TDS Freshman Best XI and the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team. McCabe was a member of the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team at the 2015 U-17 FIFA World Cup in Chile.
Jimmy Hague started all 62 games his last three seasons at Michigan State University (2015-18) after not seeing game action his freshman year. During his senior season, Hague was named United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-North Region and Second-Team All-Big 10. His other accolades include United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-Midwest Region and Big 10 Conference Goalkeeper of the Year during the 2017 season, while also drawing Second-Team All-Big 10 laurels. Hague recorded 26 shutouts in his collegiate career.
Ben Lundt started all 64 games in three seasons at Akron (2015-18). Prior to Akron, Lundt played five games for NCAA DII Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2015. Lundt led the Zips to three straight MAC Championships and berths in the NCAA College Cup each of the last two years – including a berth in the 2018 championship game. He logged 27 clean sheets and 180 saves in 64 games played and earning Second-Team All-MAC honors in 2018. He finished his career at Akron with 180 saves and 27 shutouts.
In the days leading up to the draft, the Orange and Blue acquired the Philadelphia Union’s natural first-round selection (No. 13 overall), second-round selection via Chicago (No. 29), natural second-round selection (No. 37 overall), natural third-round selection (No. 61 overall) and natural-fourth round selection (No. 85 overall) in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for $150,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
In addition, FCC also acquired LAFC’s first-round selection (No. 13 overall) – and $175,000 GAM – and Toronto FC’s second-round selection (No. 29 overall) in prior trades.
The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be as MLS’ 24th team in 2019 when the club debuts in the top professional league in the U.S. and Canada.
FC Cincinnati’s debut MLS game will be at Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, March 2, at CenturyLink Field. The Orange and Blue will make its home debut as an MLS team at Nippert Stadium on Sunday, March 17, when the team hosts MLS Cup finalist Portland Timers at 5 p.m. Tickets to that game are currently exclusively available only through 2019 Season Tickets Memberships, which start at $199 and are now on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets - including 2019 season tickets - call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.
Transactions: FC Cincinnati selects midfielder Frankie Amaya with the No. 1 selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft; defender Logan Gdula with the No. 13 selection; midfielder Tommy McCabe with the No. 29 selection;goalkeeper Jimmy Hague with the No. 30 selection and goalkeeper Ben Lundt with the No. 37 selection
Frankie Amaya
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-4
Weight: 145
Birthdate: Sept. 26, 2000
Birthplace: Santa Ana, Calif.
Hometown: Santa Ana, Calif.
School/Club: UCLA
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected with the No. 1 selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
Logan Gdula
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160
Birthdate: Oct. 13, 1996
Birthplace: Norwich, Conn
Hometown: East Lyme, Conn.
School/Club: Wake Forest
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected with the No. 13 selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
Tommy McCabe
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 174
Birthdate: April 4, 1998
Birthplace: South Orange, N.J.
Hometown: South Orange, N.J.
School/Club: Notre Dame
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected with the No. 29 selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
Jimmy Hague
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Birthdate: August 28, 1996
Birthplace: Walled Lake, Mich.
Hometown: Walled Lake, Mich.
School/Club: Michigan State
Nationality: United States
How Acquired: Selected with the No. 30 selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
Ben Lundt
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-6
Weight: 220
Birthdate: September 24, 1995
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
School/Club: Akron
Nationality: Germany
How Acquired: selected with the No. 37 selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft
