Reed Baker-Whiting, a 17-year-old midfielder from Seattle, made history on Saturday when he became the youngest player to ever appear for the Seattle Sounders in a Major League Soccer match. Baker-Whiting came on as a substitute in the second half of the Sounders’ match against FC Dallas and helped the team earn a 1-1 draw.
Baker-Whiting, who has been playing soccer since he was five years old, has been part of the Sounders’ youth academy since he was 13. He was called up to the first team for the first time in March and has been training with them since then. On Saturday, he finally got his chance to make his debut in the MLS.
The Sounders were trailing 1-0 when Baker-Whiting came on in the 75th minute. He immediately made an impact, providing energy and creativity in midfield. His presence helped the Sounders push forward and they eventually equalized in the 86th minute through a goal from forward Will Bruin.
After the match, Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer praised Baker-Whiting’s performance. “Reed did well,” Schmetzer said. “He showed good composure and energy. He’s a young player with a lot of potential.”
Baker-Whiting’s appearance was a milestone for both him and the Sounders. He is now the youngest player to ever appear for the Sounders in an MLS match, and his performance showed that he has what it takes to make it at the highest level. It will be exciting to see what else he can achieve in his career.
