Sporting KC
Details on the Three Defenders on Trial with Sporting KC
Sporting KC unveiled their preseason roster, and it included a few surprises. Three defenders are on trial along with 11 more off roster players.
Earlier today, Sporting Kansas City announced their 2026 MLS preseason roster. It included all 17 rostered players (though Zorhan Bassong is away with Canada). It also included three players who are out of contract in MLS, an unsigned SuperDraft pick, two SKC II players and eight players for the SKC Academy.
Roster Breakdown
The full Sporting KC roster is in attendance. More interesting, are the players we know less about.
- Trialists: Ethan Bartlow, Jayden Reid, Wyatt Meyer
- Draft picks: Nikos Clarke-Tosczak
- SKC II: Shane Donovan, Johann Ortiz
- SKC Academy: Zamir Loyo Reynaga (14), Luca Antongirolami (15), Carter Derksen (18), Makhi Francis (19), Jack Francka (16), Ty Haas (17), Kael Taylor (17), Nate Young (17)
Sporting KC’s other first round pick, Kwaku Agyabeng, already is signed with the team. The team’s second and third round picks won’t be coming to preseason. Second round pick Sadam Masereka signed with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) and third round pick Blake D’Agostino has decided to return to college.
In total, 31 players are off to preseason.
Trialist Details
Despite 31 players making the trip, nearly half of them don’t play first team soccer for Sporting KC. Let’s learn about the three MLS veterans on the journey.
Ethan Bartlow
Credit: fbref.com
The 25-year-old central defender is the highest profile player of the three on trial. He has spent his entire professional career with the Houston Dynamo after being selected 6th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He started out on a Generation Adidas contract, like recent SKC draft pick Agyabeng.
He didn’t appear in his rookie season after picking up a concussion that cost him much of the season. In 2022 he made his professional debut for Dynamo Dos but quickly transitioned to the first team. In his five years in MLS, he has 80 career appearances in league play. He also has two more appearances in US Open Cup and another two in Leagues Cup.
His fbref chart shows strong attacking numbers, likely buoyed by his two assists in just over 1,300 MLS minutes last year. His pass completion percentage is a little low compared to peers across the top leagues. That could be a trait of the way the Dynamo play or a weakness in Bartlow’s game. His take-ons, progressive passes and progressive carries shine, as well as his percentage of dribblers tackled.
The six-foot tall defender will turn 26 during preseason. He’s left-footed.
2025 MLS Salary: $275,000
Wyatt Meyer
Meyer is another left-footed center back, but he’s only 24-years-old. He also has the ability to play in the midfield or at left back. After his 2023 season in college, he was drafted in the first round by Nashville SC but elected to return to college for the 2024 season. After a successful colleague career at the University of California Berkley, he signed with Nashville during the 2025 preseason.
Despite making his pro debut in the first game of the 2025 season, Meyer didn’t get a ton of time as a rookie. He had just six appearances (three starts) in league play and another two during the US Open Cup on the way to Nashville eventually lifting that trophy. He would add his only goal during that Open Cup run as well.
Six One Five Soccer’s Ben Wright says:
“Solid depth player. Most natural at center back but can play left back or in midfield. Really good technically, left footed but can use his right, should be able to give a solid 500-700 minutes.”
He spent a chunk of time with Nashville’s MLS Next Pro team, Huntsville City FC. He picked up another six appearances (five starts) with the Alabama based side. He also played in a friendly against Aston Villa.
His time down the stretch was limited due to a foot injury and he didn’t appear in another game after August 9th against St. Louis City.
2025 MLS Salary: $80,622
Jayden Reid
Speaking of STL City, fullback Jayden Reid comes to Sporting KC on trial from their cross-state rivals. Reid spent the last two seasons in St. Louis after originally coming up through the New York Red Bulls system. He signed as a Homegrown in 2023 and made a single league appearance for RBNY that season while mostly spending his time with RBNY II in MLS Next Pro.
From there, he signed with St. Louis City 2 where he played most of 2024, excluding a few short-term loans to the first team. He got in two first team appearances before joining St. Louis’ first team full-time late in 2024 and extending his contract through a 2025 option.
Reid primarily lines up at left back and played a few minutes with St. Louis in 2025. He made eight appearances (five starts) for 450 minutes. In 2024, he played more frequently with 12 appearances (seven starts) for 730 minutes. In his two seasons in St. Louis, he also had 1,746 minutes in MLS Next Pro over two years (22 appearances, 21 starts).
The always reliable Wikipedia describes Reid as being known for his “exceptional acceleration and pace.”
2025 MLS Salary: $104,000
Trialist Fits
Sporting KC have only three defenders listed on their roster: Jansen Miller, Ian James and Justin Reynolds. Several of the SKC Academy players they brought along are also defenders (Luca, Francka and Young). It would seem there is a path for minutes until more players join on permanent deals.
With the deal for left back Cesar Inga seemingly falling through and Zorhan Bassong away with Canada, there are literally no players rostered who play left back. First round pick Nikos Clarke-Tosczak may split time with Reid, Meyer and/or some Academy kids. There is no depth anywhere on the roster outside of goalkeeper, so adding defenders makes sense.
Expect a rash of signings in the coming weeks as David Lee has promised “double digit” additions.
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I don’t exactly know what it says that they have half a roster and still their 2nd and 3rd round draft picks, who have to know this is their best and perhaps only real shot at making an MLS roster, said “nah.”
man I agree. To even get the opportunity to “tryout” is a feather in the cap and give you some experience that you most likely need. It is odd that they would not decide to tryout. Could be external circumstances that is keeping them from moving forward.
Ive Followed St Louis City SC since they started in the league – Reid was fun to watch at times. He was very fast. Don’t think he is a start by any means. I think he has the opportunity to really grow if he can get those minutes in. With St. Louis going through so many changes from season 1 to now it had to have been rough on all those players.
I do remember seeing Bartlow playing for Houston. He seemed decent. Even if we can have a super consistent player in Bartlow I would see that as a win.
But We need to see more than just trialist… it would be good to hear of new rumors and such. I do wonder when the double digit signings will start to emerge?
This season is going to be super interesting for sure.
The 2nd round pick likely got a good deal considering the USL is getting ready to have a new higher level league. Going to preseason and losing a likely living wage offer for a 2nd round pick, considering how few 2nd rounders make rosters, seems like a good choice. I wish him the best.
3rd rounders almost never make roster. Although, interestingly LA Galaxy drafted an SKC Academy player out of UCLA in the 3rd round, whose rights we could have had, and signed him a couple of years ago to a first team deal. I believe the new rules mean that even after next year SKC can still hold his rights.
I hope these players not coming imply there is enough talent that they would have struggled to make the roster. However, I think it might be hard to assume they had that depth of knowledge.