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Re-Entry Draft: Coming and Going

It's been a busy day at the MLS re-entry draft for the Vancouver Whitecaps, as a new face arrives, while another more familiar one heads down the I-5.

By Rob R. Scott
Will attacking midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy get the chance to resurrect his career here in Vancouver in 2014?
Will attacking midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy get the chance to resurrect his career here in Vancouver in 2014?
Drew Hallowell

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced today that they've selected attacking midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy in phase two of the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Ballouchy, 30, has been around MLS for eight years, having signed a Generation Adidas contract in 2006 and being selected second overall by Real Salt Lake in the 2006 SuperDraft.

Since then, the Moroccan  also played with Colorado, New York, and San Jose, racking up a total of 185 MLS appearances, with 13 goals and 24 assists in more than 12,000 minutes played.

Last season, Ballouchy made only five appearances for the Earthquakes, notching only one shot attempt, and no points. He's battled ACL issues the past two years, having missed long stretches over that period due to injury. His full stats are available here on the Major League Soccer website.

Meanwhile, former Whitecap forward Corey Hertzog, whose option wasn't picked up by the Caps for 2014,  was selected by the Seattle Sounders as their second pick in phase two of the Re-Entry Draft. Hertzog entered the league in 2011 - and like Ballouchy, on a Generation Adidas contract. He played two seasons with the Red Bulls before being released and picked up by Vancouver

In both cases, the Caps and Sounders have one week to offer a contract with their respective picks in order to retain their rights for the coming season.

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