Sporting Sign Two

With MLS' secondary transfer window coming to a close, Sporting Kansas City did make two moves that coincided with the close of the window. We heard yesterday from Robb Heineman that the Jorge Claros deal at fallen through for this window, but Sporting didn't go out without picking up a couple players. The two players, Jimmy Medranda and Brendan Ruiz, though, don't look like they'll be making immediate impacts for Sporting this year. The two are 19 and 20 years old respectively.

Medranda comes to Kansas City on a loan deal from Colombian side, Deportivo Pereira, who is actually coached by Octavio Zambrano, former assistant coach to Peter Vermes in 2010 and 2011. One has to assume that the relationship between the two has to do with the loan deal that brings Medranda to KC. Medranda is a midfielder who came up through Pereira's youth system. He's made 16 appearances for the club over the last two seasons, scoring two goals. Judging by the information in the release, he looks on the small side, he's only 5-5 weighting in at 150 pounds. Just reading that information immediately makes me wonder if he is a bit Joao Plata like in his play.

Sporting's second signing, Ruiz, is an American who had spent the last two years playing with the U20 team of Brazilian first division club, Figuerense. Ruiz is a converted defender who used to play in the midfield.

I wouldn't expect much from either player this year.  This looks like what's become a regular summer signing for Peter Vermes.  As I mentioned yesterday, his summer signings the past couple years have been guys who aren't really going to offer a whole lot this season, but are guys that could be used in the future to help the team out.