MLS Draft 2018: Toronto FC select Tim Kubel 28th overall

In the second round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft Toronto FC have selected Tim Kubel out of University of Louisville. The Reds moved their first pick down to the second round from 23rd overall, swapping picks with Minnesota United and receiving an extra $50,000 in targeted allocation money (TAM) in the process.

Kubel gives Toronto some depth at right wing back. The 24-year-old Kubel is a German native who scored 6 goals and added 7 assists in 19 games for Louisville last season. Kubel also spent time in the Borussia Dortmund II and Schalke II.

He will have a chance to make the first team as a backup to Nicolas Hasler with Steven Beitashour on his way out. If not, he will add a veteran presence to a Toronto FC II team that recently shed a lot of its more experienced players.

Trading down seems like a very shrewd move for TFC, who seem to be taking draft strategy advice from their MLSE brothers, the Toronto Maple Leafs. At that stage of the draft, most picks are an educated shot in the dark. They therefore gained some very useful cash to use in signing new players, and gave up very little.

Los Angeles FC had the first overall pick, taking defender Joao Moutinho from Akron.