Americans to Watch: Reed Baker — Whiting

On July 22, 2021, Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer would make the brave decision to start 5 teenagers in an away match at Austin FC. It was proof that the tides were changing; MLS was no longer a “retirement league,” and that notion was even further weakened by the fact that Seattle would go on to win that match, 1–0, courtesy of a 40 — yard strike from Raul Ruidiaz.

But what, or more appropriately, who, made me the most impressed during this match wasn’t Ruidiaz, who any MLS follower can tell you is one of the league’s most prolific strikers. Rather, it was a 16 — year — old midfielder by the name of Reed Baker — Whiting.

In the match, Baker — Whiting more than held his own, managing to play a pretty good ball in behind and getting an attempt on goal that forced the keeper into a save. To some, this may sound like an average performance. Except an “average” performance for a 16 — year — old is quite exceptional.

The fact that he’s able to keep up with the pace and physicality of the game at a young age is fantastic; it’s rare for 17 — year — olds to be developed enough to play regularly for their clubs, but Baker — Whiting seems set to play a pretty big role for the Sounders this season. After all, that’s probably why he wasn’t allowed to join the USMNT U — 20 camp roster that was announced a few days ago; Schmetzer probably wants him in pre season training.

In fact, Baker — Whiting has also attracted attention from abroad. According to Tom Bogert, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, and Manchester City. It’ll be a while until any offers actually come; he doesn’t have a European passport and he’s not 18, so he won’t eligible to play for a European club until then.

And that’s probably for the best. I still think youngsters should play regularly for their MLS clubs before they move abroad, and it’ll only help him when he inevitably does move to a bigger league. He’s that level of a talent, and with a teenage midfield pool that already includes guys like Paxten Aaronson, Caden Clark, Kristian Fletcher, and Adrian Gill (the list goes on), he’s going to be a big part of the USMNT’s future.