SAN JOSE, Calif. â The San Jose Earthquakes have selected defensive midfielder Michael Baldisimo in Stage 2 of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft. San Jose will be required to make a genuine offer to the player by a date set by Major League Soccer. If an agreement cannot be reached, San Jose will hold the Right of First Refusal for him in MLS.
Baldisimo, 22, has tallied one goal and three assists in 47 MLS appearances (23 starts) for Vancouver Whitecaps FC since joining the team in July 2018. A longtime member of the Whitecaps FC Academy, Baldisimo signed his first professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 in 2017 before joining the first team in July 2018 at 18 years old.
After a breakout season in 2020, Baldisimo set career highs in appearances (21), starts (12), and minutes played (1,254) in 2021, while helping Vancouver to their first playoff berth since 2017. In 2022, he made four starts in 13 MLS appearances, while making another two starts for MLS NEXT Pro side Whitecaps FC 2.
Internationally, Baldisimo has represented his native Canada at the U17, U20 and U23 levels. He was named to the U20 squad for the 2018 Concacaf U20 Championship and to the U23 squad for the 2020 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship. Baldisimo, of Filipino descent, has also received multiple call-ups to the senior Philippines National Team, but has not yet made an appearance.
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) â Earthquakes select M Michael Baldisimo in Stage Two of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
