Everything you need to know about new RSL signing Sebastian Saucedo

Real Salt Lake announced the signing of 17-year-old Sebastian Saucedo yesterday on a homegrown contract.

If you follow RSL's youth development and academy, it's a name you've probably heard a lot, but if you haven't, we break down some vital facts about this immensely talented young attacker.

Where's he from?

Well, wouldn't you know it, this 17-year-old hails from just up the hill: Park City, Utah - home of the Sundance Film Festival, ski resorts galore, and some other sorts of things. Saucedo was, however, born in California.

Where's he played?

Not only has he grown up in Utah, but he's played for one of Utah's top club teams, La Roca - the same club brothers Fito and Nico Ovalle, two academy standouts, came from. From there, he joined Real Salt Lake's Arizona academy, where he spent two full seasons. He scored a remarkable 50 goals in that time.

Additionally, he played plenty of minutes for Real Salt Lake's reserves side, never looking out of place.

He's also played with United States youth teams, most notably the U-18s. He'd seem to have a strong shot at making the U-20s soon - and he's only 17 - and maybe he'll have a chance come time for the Olympics.

Why now?

The academy season just ended, which provides a natural transition point for a player destined to be a professional.

The move comes just days after receiving the US Soccer Development Academy award for Player of the Year in the West.

Where does he positionally fit best?

I've seen Saucedo play in three distinct positions: Up top as a forward, on the flank as a winger, and in the attacking midfield spot. Pinpointing his best position is difficult.

As a forward, he's got lethal goalscoring potential. It's where he's been best with the RSL reserves when called upon. As a winger, he cuts inside expertly, but it's worth noting that the academy often plays a 4-2-3-1 with two wide attacking players. As an attacking midfielder, he has good creativity and excellent vision for shots from distance.

When might we see him playing with the first time?

Well, this is a little trickier. Chris Kamrani, the Salt Lake Tribune RSL beat reporter, reports that his contract is effective in January 2015, but that he could be added to the active roster if a spot becomes available. Now, what exactly that means is difficult to say, and it's not really known at this point if we're likely to cut somebody.

But let's say that we did have him on the roster now: When might he play, if that was the case? That's again difficult to say, especially with the set of forwards we have now.

Robbie Findley may be a little injury prone, and Olmes Garcia might be a little streaky with his goalscoring (let's hope consistency is coming quickly), and those two - alongside Joao Plata - mark the spot where he'd probably be most comfortable.

But RSL is still lacking a true backup to Javier Morales, especially with Gil looking more comfortable at the side of the diamond, and maybe that's a good spot, too. The flexibility is nice, but it's maybe not something we have to concern ourselves with right now.

Is he good?

You tell me.

Is he on Twitter?

You know he is. He's a young person. Twitter is apparently what young people do.

Very happy and excited to be a part of @RealSaltLake family. New goals and a new journey ahead of me.❤️ #RSLfamily pic.twitter.com/RcpjGGh00w

— Sebastian Saucedo (@Tian__21) July 25, 2014

What number will he wear?

23, it seems. Not a bad place to start, but I suspect he's destined for that number 10 shirt someday.