ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2023) – Orlando City SC selected four players on Tuesday in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, adding one forward and three midfielders on the night. With two picks in the First Round, the Lions opened by taking midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski at No. 21 overall out of Syracuse University. The Lions would round out their first-round picks selecting forward Yutaro Tsukada from West Virginia University with the No. 25 overall pick.
“It’s always interesting to see how a draft goes and I think this draft was a little different with all of the underclassmen, it was something we’re not used to and I think was the most unexpected draft in years. But we got the players that we wanted,” said Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi. “[Our scouts] recognize players, we’re not just watching the College Cup Final, we’re actually going around for four months and going to the colleges. We feel good about what we got...time will tell, but we’re extremely happy with what we got.”
After acquiring the 21st overall pick from the Colorado Rapids, the Lions selected midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski out of Syracuse University. In his four years there, he played in 71 games and recorded seven goals and 18 assists. Last season, as a senior, he was named ACC Co-Midfielder of the Year, becoming the first Syracuse player to win the award. Appearing in 20 matches as the team Captain, he scored one goal to go along with his 12 assists during the 2023 season. The 12 assists are the most by a senior in the program’s history and the third-most helpers in a single season. In 2022, he played a vital role in the midfield, helping the Orange become the NCAA National Champions, ACC Tournament Champions, and ACC Atlantic Division regular season champions.
Orlando City traded for the 21st overall pick from the Rapids in exchange for $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money and $25,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money.
Just four picks later, the Lions selected forward Yutaro Tsukada who played his junior and senior year at West Virginia University. In his two seasons with the Mountaineers, he appeared in 40 games, scored 13 goals, and recorded 14 assists. In 2023, Tsukada tied for the team lead and was 16th in the nation with 12 goals. Six of his 12 goals served as game winners, which was third-best in the country. He led the team in that same season with nine assists which helped him earn United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team honors. Prior to playing at West Virgina, Tsukada played two seasons at Daytona State College.
With the No. 54 overall pick in the draft, the Lions selected midfielder Filip Mirkovic from the University of Pittsburgh. Mirkovic logged 75 appearances, seven goals and 28 assists during his four years with the Panthers. In 2022, he tallied 12 assists, which marked a new program record for assists in a single season, led the entire ACC and was good enough to finish sixth in the nation in assists. The Manhattan, N.Y. native was also named to the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Mirkovic also joined the Wrexham Red Dragons in The Soccer Tournament 7v7 that was held in Cary, N.C. back in June of this year.
With the No. 83 overall pick in the draft, the Lions selected midfielder Riyon Tori from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Tori played collegiately at St. John’s University before transferring to the Charlotte 49ers. Tori, a junior this year at Charlotte, was eligible for the 2024 MLS SuperDraft under the expanded pool of eligible players that includes players who are currently collegiate sophomores, juniors and above.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC selects midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski (No. 21 overall), forward Yutaro Tsukada (No. 25 overall), midfielder Filip Mirkovic (No. 54 overall) and midfielder Riyon Tori (No. 83 overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas.
Jeorgio Kocevski (JOR-jee-oh ko-SHEV-skee)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Born: Aug. 19, 2002
Hometown: Liverpool, N.Y.
Citizenship: USA
Yutaro Tsukada (yoo-TAH-ro soo-KAH-dah)
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 154
Born: N/A
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Citizenship: JPN
Filip Mirkovic (phillip MUR-ko-vich)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-2
Weight: N/A
Born: N/A
Hometown: Manhattan, N.Y.
Citizenship: USA
Riyon Tori (ree-YON)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
Born: N/A
Hometown: Osaka, Japan
Citizenship: JPN
