SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski is among 20 players selected to represent Major League Soccer in the 2018 MLS Homegrown Game, presented by Energizer®.
Marcinkowski, 21, signed a Homegrown Player contract with San Jose ahead of the 2018 season, following a standout amateur career in the Quakes Academy and Georgetown University. Marcinkowski has also represented the United States at various youth national team levels, including at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The native of Alamo, Calif. has spent the 2018 season training with the Quakes’ First Team and playing on loan with the club’s USL affiliate Reno 1868 FC, where’s he’s led them to a stunning 16-game unbeaten streak (10-0-6), including wins in each of their last five. He is one of five nominees for the USL 2018 Fans' Choice Midseason Awards - Young Player of the Year.
The team, to be coached by Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan, features some of the league’s most accomplished young stars who will take on Tigres UANL’s Under-20 Team in the fifth annual MLS Homegrown Game on Tuesday, July 31 at 5 p.m. PT at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground (UDN / Twitter.com).
One of the many highly anticipated events during the week of events surrounding 2018 MLS All-Star Atlanta, the MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® provides an annual platform in which to showcase MLS’ burgeoning young talent and demonstrate the growth of the League’s youth development system. MLS academies continue to attract and cultivate top-flight prospects and have now produced over 170 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs. Vital to the long-term success of their clubs, Homegrown Players now serve more important and visible roles than ever, with academy products logging a record number of goals, assists, minutes and games played in 2017. Of note, the 94 assists compiled by Homegrown Players in 2017 is more than double the total compared to 2016.
2018 MLS Homegrown Team Roster
Goalkeepers: JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Melvin (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Defenders: Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas), Marco Farfan (Portland Timbers), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union), James Sands (New York City FC), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union)
Midfielders: Efrain Alvarez (LA Galaxy), Chris Durkin (D.C. United), Anthony Fontana (Philadelphia Union), Liam Fraser (Toronto FC), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United), Wan Kuzain (Sporting Kansas City), Cameron Lindley (Orlando City SC), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake)
Forwards: Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United), Ben Mines (New York Red Bulls)
