The Colorado Rapids will be without defender Joseph Greenspan for the foreseeable future, as the Naval officer is away on duty, coach Pablo Mastroeni said Monday.
“For now he’s not going to be with us, as far as I know, for 2016,” Mastroeni said.
Midshipman Joseph Greenspan was selected No. 26 overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. (Provided by the Naval Academy)
Greenspan, a 6-foot-6 defender selected in the second round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, missed the beginning of 2015 as he finished up his degree at the Naval Academy. , but and play for the Rapids.
“He knew this was a possibility coming into the league,” Mastroeni said. “We move on at the moment in hopes that we get him back soon enough.”
Mastroeni said Greenspan “was really growing into his own” near the end of 2015 as his confidence and understanding of what was asked of him grew.
The news leaves the Rapids with five defenders under contract on the roster this season.
“We’re obviously needing to replace that position,” Mastroeni said. “Who we do that with is still kind of up in the air, but it’s a shame really because we had some really good plans for Joe coming into this year.”
Mastroeni did, however, leave some wiggle room for a possible return.
“It’s one of those situations that can change at any minute,” Mastroeni said.
Greenspan appeared in three games for Colorado in 2015 (two starts).
