The Colorado Rapids selected four players during the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The first two rounds were held Friday at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois with the final two rounds coming Monday via MLS conference call. With the fifth overall pick of the first round, the Rapids selected Andre Shinyashiki after a trade for Chicago Fire’s natural first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Colorado’s first-round pick (No. 15 overall) and $100,000 in General Allocation Money. With their two second round picks Colorado selected defender Marcello Borges (No. 28 overall) and central defender Jacob Hauser-Ramsey (No. 42 overall). Rounding out the final two rounds of the SuperDraft on January 14, the Rapids selected midfielder Robbie Mertz from the University of Michigan.
Shinyashiki, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, led the nation in goals scored in 2018 with 28 strikes (1.33 goals per game) for the University of Denver. The forward was selected as a 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist, a USC First Team All-American, a back-to-back USC First Team All-West Region and a Summit League Offensive Player of the Year. Shinyashiki, netted a total of 51 goals for the University of Denver between 2015-18. He was part of the Rapids U-23 PDL team this past summer where he bagged eight goals and added four assists.
A versatile defender, Marcello Borges played four seasons for the University of Michigan between 2015-18. The U.S. U-20 player logged fifty starts and notched 10 assists for the Wolverines. Borges was selected as part of the 2018 USC Third Team All-North Region and Second Team All-Big 10 Conference and the Academic All-Big 10 Conference.
Hauser-Ramsey, a 6-foot-3 central defender, recorded 55 starts for the University of Connecticut from 2016-18. The former Seattle Sounders academy product was selected to the USC First Team All-East Region in 2018, and also picked up the American Conference Defender of the Year award last season. In 2017, the Seattle, Washington native earned his first spot in the USC First Team All-Region and a First Team All-American Athletic Conference selection.
Mertz, a box-to-box midfielder, featured in 76 games (55 from the start) for the University of Michigan from 2015-18. The Pittsburg native was selected to the USC All-North Region in 2017 and 2018, and served as the co-captain for the Wolverines for his junior and senior year.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids – January 11, 2019 – Colorado Rapids selected Andre Shinyashiki after a trade for Chicago Fire’s natural first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Colorado’s first-round pick (No. 15 overall) and $100,000 in General Allocation Money, defender Marcello Borges (No. 28 overall), central defender Jacob Hauser-Ramsey (No. 42 overall) and midfielder Robbie Mertz (No. 76 overall).
Full Name: Andre Shinyashiki
Pronunciation: Sheen-a-shee-kee
Position: Forward
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 150 lbs.
Born: June 11, 1997
College: University of Denver
Citizenship: Brazil
Full Name: Marcello Borges
Pronunciation: Bore-jes
Position: Defender
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 155 lbs.
Born: September 13, 1997
College: University of Michigan
Citizenship: USA
Full Name: Jacob Hauser-Ramsey
Position: Defender
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: August 4, 1995
College: University of Connecticut
Citizenship: USA
Full Name: Robbie Mertz
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 150 lbs.
Born: December 4, 1996
College: University of Michigan
Citizenship: USA
