COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids selected midfielder Wayne Frederick (2nd overall), Generation adidas forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes (fourth overall), Palmer Ault (34th overall), defender Anderson Rosa (43rd overall), and forward Gunnar Studenhofft (60th overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on Tuesday. The Rapids also acquired the No. 14 overall pick and the No. 43 overall picks and $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money in exchange for the No. 12 overall pick, $125,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from Charlotte FC for the 14th overall pick, received $75,000 in GAM from Orlando City SC for the 21st overall pick, and obtained the rights to Nate Jones (5th overall pick) and the 34th pick from Austin FC in exchange for the 31st pick and $250,000 in GAM.
“We’re thrilled to come out of this SuperDraft with six talented players, with half of them being top-five picks. We believe that Wayne Frederick, Kimani Stewart-Baynes and Nate Jones have high potential and align with our system,” said Sporting Director Fran Taylor. “Opening up the eligibility to underclassmen allows us to add youth to our squad for years ahead. We’re delighted with this entire class and ready to preparations for the upcoming season.”
In the first round the Rapids selected midfielder Wayne Frederick from Duke University (second overall), Generation adidas forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes (fourth overall). In the second round, the club traded the No. 31 pick and $250,000 in General Allocation Money to Austin FC in exchange for the rights to defender Nate Jones, who was drafted fifth overall, as well as the No. 34 pick. The Rapids selected two players in the second round, including forward Palmer Ault from Butler (34th overall) and defender Anderson Rosa from University of Central Florida (43rd overall). The final draft pick occurred in the third round, selecting forward Gunnar Studenhofft from Manhattan College (60th overall).
Other transactions from the day included the Rapids trading the 12th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for New York’s 14th overall pick in the same draft, along with $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) and New York’s 43rd overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Colorado then traded the 14thoverall pick (originally acquired by New York Red Bulls) to Charlotte FC, receiving $75,000 in 2024 GAM and $50,000 in 2025 GAM in the exchange. Later in the first round, Colorado traded the 21st overall pick to Orlando City SC in exchange for $50,000 in 2024 GAM and $25,000 in 2025 GAM.
“The draft is a great spot for us to add young, hungry players to the group that we already have in place and we feel like we’ve done that today,” said Rapids Head Coach Chris Armas. “We believe we’ve added players that can come in and execute our style of play.”
Frederick, 19, a sophomore at Duke, made 17 appearances in his 2023 campaign, contributing three goals and three assists. The Cabin John, Maryland, native earned a spot in Top Drawer Soccer’s Postseason Freshman Top-100 in 2022. Before joining Duke, he competed for Bethesda SC in MLS NEXT, commencing his academy journey in 2014 and contributing to the U-17 squad's 2021 MLS NEXT Playoffs quarterfinal appearance. Frederick achieved a three-year letterwinner status at St. Albans High School, earning All-American honors in 2021 and helping secure a D.C. State Championship. Named the 2021 D.C. State Player of the Year, he garnered two-time All-Conference selections in 2019 and 2021, scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists. Additionally, he was nominated for the 2022 D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year Award.
Stewart-Baynes, 18, a freshman at the University of Maryland scored three goals and delivered seven assists in his 14-game debut season. The Toronto, Ontario, native was dubbed Big Ten Freshman of the Year, a unanimous selection for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Freshman Best XI Second Team. Prior to his time with the Terrapins, Stewart-Baynes played for Vaughan Soccer Club, where he notched 17 goals in 14 matches for the U-19 team to win the League 1 U-19 championship. He also attended Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School, where he added nine goals and seven assists. Stewart-Baynes brings speed to the Rapids, recording an 11-second 100m dash as a junior in high school.
Jones, 22, a junior at the University of Washington, earned a spot on the First Team All-Pac-12 and was also named to the United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Far West Region, after recording a single-season collegiate career high three goals and two assists this year. In 2022, the Gig Harbor, Washington, native was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team after helping his teammates hold their opponents to just 144 shots on the season.
Ault, 19, a sophomore at Butler University, has scored 16 goals in two seasons at Butler. In 2022, his freshman campaign, the Noblesville, Indiana, native netted 10 goals and delivered six assists, which earned him 2022 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year as well as All-BIG EAST First Team and Top Drawer Soccer’s Freshman Best XI First Team honors. This past season, he tallied six goals over 15 games for an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.
Rosa, 22, a senior at University of Central Florida, comes to MLS by way of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The defender notched six goals in four seasons with the Black Knights, including three in 2023. During his collegiate career, he earned two all-conference first-team honors and two all-conference second-teams nods.
Studenhofft, 21, a junior at Manhattan College, scored seven goals and delivered two assists in 2023 for the Jaspers. He debuted in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Suriname and later featured in two CONCACAF Nations League matches in 2023, scoring in both appearances. At the youth international level, Studenhofft has represented the Cayman Islands at the U-20, U-17 and U-15 age groups. In 2022, he was the top scorer for Cedar Stars FC of the United Premier Soccer League.
TRANSACTIONS: Colorado Rapids selected midfielder Wayne Frederick second overall, GA forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes fourth overall, forward Palmer Ault 34th overall, defender Anderson Rosa 43rd overall, and forward Gunnar Studenhofft 60th overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The Rapids also acquired the No. 14 overall pick and the No. 43 overall picks and $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for the No. 12 overall pick, $125,000 in GAM ($75,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025) from Charlotte FC for the 14th overall pick, received $75,000 in GAM ($50,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2025) from Orlando City SC for the 21stoverall pick, and obtained the rights to Nate Jones (5th overall pick) and the 34th pick from Austin FC in exchange for the 31st pick and $250,000 in 2024 GAM.
