SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed their top selection from last month’s MLS Supplemental Draft, Cesar Diaz Pizarro. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
San Jose chose the 21-year-old forward out of UC Riverside in the second round, 25th overall, of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17. Pizarro made 74 appearances during a standout four-year career at UC Riverside, drawing 53 starts and tallying 20 goals, including eight game-winners and eight assists. He left the program No. 1 on the all-time chart in games played and game-winning goals, and No. 2 in points and goals scored.
“We liked what we saw from Cesar in our combine and during the preseason,” said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop. “He was a quality goal scorer in college from a competitive conference and we would like to see him develop into the same thing in our league. He’s tall, good on the ball and a hard worker and we’re happy to have him in San Jose.”
As a senior for the Highlanders in 2011, Pizarro was named the Big West Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year, as well as both an NSCAA All-Far West Region Second Team and All-Big West First Team honoree. He produced nine goals, with four game-winners a new single-season school record, to go along with three assists while starting all 19 matches in his final college campaign. Pizarro guided UCR to a 9-6-4 overall mark, setting a program standard for wins as the team advanced to its first Big West Tournament.
“Cesar has a lot of potential coming out of UC Riverside where he really came on in his senior year. He has a prototypical body type for a striker and he has a high upside,” said Earthquakes general manager John Doyle.
Born in Chiclayo, Peru, Pizarro grew up in Chino, Calif., and previously attended Ruben S. Ayala High School in Chino Hills, Calif. He now joins the Earthquakes to add depth at forward, a position currently occupied by the standout tandem of Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart, as well as the likes of returners Alan Gordon and Ellis McLoughlin, and newcomer Sercan Guvenisik.
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign F Cesar Diaz Pizarro.
Cesar Diaz Pizarro
Jersey Number: 27
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175 lbs.
Born: September 15, 1990, in Chiclayo, Peru
Hometown: Chino, Calif.
College: UC Riverside
Citizenship: Peru
