RSL picks Ricky Lopez-Espin with second-round MLS Draft pick

With their second round MLS Draft pick, Real Salt Lake selected Ricky Lopez-Espin, a forward out of Creighton University.

Lopez-Espin, a forward, played all four years at Creighton. He scored 12 goals his senior year, leading the team in goals scored and earning various plaudits along the way, including the Big East Player of the Year in 2017.

During at least one match in the MLS Combine, Lopez-Espin was deployed in the midfield despite being a center forward. He also scored two goals in the first day of the combine as a second-half subst itute. Various mock drafts had the forward being taken as high as ninth in the draft.

Lopez-Espin has already signed an MLS contract, according to his Twitter.

RSL previously traded their first-round draft pick to Chicago Fire in exchange for $85,000 in general allocation money.

Highlights of Lopez-Espin’s collegiate career are below.