Sporting KC signs Felipe Hernandez to Homegrown contract

Sporting Kansas City has signed 21-year-old Felipe Hernandez as a Homegrown Player just before the roster freeze deadline. Hernandez, is the 12^th Homegrown Play to sign with the club and will continue to wear #85. Herandez’s MLS contract is through 2020 with options for 2021 and 2022.

The Pro Pathway for Sporting Kansas City can take multiple routes through the process with Hernandez becoming the first Sporting KC player to step through the process all the way from an Academy Affiliate, to the Sporting KC Academy, to the Swope Park Rangers and now the senior team.

Homegrown Players are required to play a minimum amount of time in the academy and reside in the Homegrown territory but do not have to come from that territory originally. In Hernandez’s case he was born in Colombia and then grew up in Nashville where he played with former affiliate Sporting Nashville Heroes before moving up to the Sporting KC Academy in 2014.

Hernandez signed an amateur Academy contract with the Sporting KC’s USL side, the Swope Park Rangers in August 2016 and he then earned his first professional contract, signing with the Rangers in January 2017.

The versatile midfielder has 13 goals since signing with Swope Park, netting 8 of those in 2019 while the team has struggled in most areas. Hernandez has also added three assists and been one of the few bright spots in his breakout year.

Hernandez typically plays an “8” type role for Swope Park but has played across the midfield and even some time as a winger this season when the team has been short-handed.

All-Time Sporting KC Homegrown Players (12)

2010 - Goalkeeper Jon Kempin

2011 - Defender Kevin Ellis

2013 - Defender Erik Palmer-Brown

2016 - Forward Daniel Salloi *

2017 - Midfielder Gianluca Busio *

2017 - Defender Jaylin Lindsey *

2018 - Defender Matt Lewis

2018 - Forward Zach Wright

2018 - Midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal *

2018 - Forward Tyler Freeman *

2019 - Midfielder Cameron Duke *

2019 - Midfielder Felipe Hernandez *

*Denotes player on current Sporting KC roster

Thad Bell