:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52166455/usa-today-9539635.0.jpeg)
Less than two weeks ago I had listed Kris Tyrpak as a player who could potentially make the jump from the Swope Park Rangers to Sporting Kansas City. Apparently either the senior club or Mr. Tyrpak felt differently. Today, San Antonio FC announced that Kris Tyrpak had signed with them for the 2017 season. Tyrpak actually played for the precursor to SAFC when he spent a brief amount of time with the former NASL occupant of that same stadium, the San Antonio Scorpions, in 2015. Before that, Tyrpak played for the Austin Aztex (USL) both before and after his time with Chivas USA.
Tyrpak was actually raised in Dripping Springs, Texas and may have just returned to Texas to be close to home. Or maybe he thinks San Antonio have a good chance to gain MLS Expansion, as they are owned by the same group that own the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) and have MLS ambitions. Tyrpak didn't say in his interview with SAFC.
This will be quite the blow for the Swope Park Rangers. He was the second highest scoring player on the club in 2016 (seven goals) behind only Mark Anthony Gonzalez (nine goals). He also appeared in 28 of a possible 30 games, which was behind only Christian Duke and Ualefi (and tied with Amer Didic) but he was sixth on the team with minutes due to a series of minor injuries. He is the kind of player that benefited from the five substitute rule that the USL will be doing away with in 2017.
Tyrpak also added an assist during the regular season. Where he really shined for SPR was in the playoffs where he knocked in three goals and had an additional assist. Kris will be missed in 2017 and will leave openings for someone else to emerge on the wing. Between this, and Tyler Pasher signing with SKC, there is suddenly a lack of depth out wide for SPR (though I suspect Pasher may get loaned back to SPR for consistent minutes).
Here is to wishing Tyrpak the best of luck (though not when he plays SPR) going forward in his career. We'll bring you the latest as the offseason moves keep coming (like that Liam Doyle signing you may have missed yesterday).