The first fruits from Orlando City SC’s farm have been harvested.
Orlando City B midfielder Tony Rocha and defender Mikey Ambrose were signed to MLS contracts on Thursday, marking the first promotions from the development system to the First Team in Club history.
“I first talked about them with [OCB head coach Anthony Pulis] before I came here about who the prospects he felt like in the B team were who could help the First Team,” Lions head coach Kreis said Friday. “To watch them play in the Stoke City match last week, I thought they were two of arguably the best players on the entire field for us.”
Kreis stuck true to his word that he would evaluate the Club’s players from top to bottom. He didn’t have to go very far down to find these two, though.
The two 22-year-olds have been stalwarts in Pulis’ starting XI all season, and for good reason. Rocha is dominant in midfield, constantly creating turnovers and quickly distributing the ball to his playmakers. Ambrose’s technical ability up the left wing is readily apparent and he whips in crosses like a left-footed Rafa Ramos.
They’ll bring strong qualities to the MLS team and will immediately push for starting roles.
“Things are going to get pretty fierce around here,” Kreis said. “We need that.”
It’s a huge step in the players’ careers now that they’re on top-flight rosters. And it must be nice for Kreis, too, to see a player he watched years ago finally make it to the Show.
“I did see Mikey play in college, scouting Maryland,” Kreis remembered. “I was fond of him when I saw him play in a couple matches a few years back.”
But what’s most encouraging for Lions fans is that just over four months since playing its first game, OCB – a team created exactly for this purpose – is already producing MLS-caliber players.
“I wanted to reward players that are doing well for our B team and to show that there is a linear pathway from the B team to the First Team if players deserve it,”
Kreis said.
