Union's Josh Yaro Enjoying Rookie Season
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The 2016 season has been good to the Philadelphia Union so far. After beating Chicago Wednesday night, 4-3, Philadelphia has 26 points which is good for first place in MLS Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia has really gotten a boost from its most recent draft class which is paying immediate dividends. The Union had three first-round picks in the 2016 SuperDraft and while defender Keegan Rosenberry has without question had the biggest impact, the other two first round selections, defender Josh Yaro and forward Fabian Herbers, have also made their presence felt.
Yaro was actually the highest pick of the three, taken #2 overall out of Georgetown. So far in 2016, the 21-year-old has played in eight games for the Union, starting seven. He played the entire second half against Chicago in his return from a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for three games. Overall, Yaro says his rookie year is going well.
"Obviously, first season you're getting used to a lot of things and trying to figure things out as you go," Yaro tells KYW Newsradio. "But so far, so good. It has been a good season, especially having a group of guys around me that are really motivated and really work hard to achieve a big goal. I think that's pushed me to become a better player and enjoy my rookie season."
Listen to the entire interview with the Union's Josh Yaro:
Yaro enjoyed a lot of success during his college career with the Hoyas. He was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
"Making the jump from college to the pro level, it takes a lot," Yaro says. "The speed of the game is different, it's just something that you get used to with time. I think I'm getting there slowly, not perfect, but on the path with all the coaching I've been getting and with all the training, soon I will get to that point."
One thing that helped the transition is the fact that Yaro came to Philadelphia with a college teammate as Rosenberry is also a Georgetown product.
"It's nice," Yaro says. "I've known him for a few years now and we know what each other can and can not do, so that helps us make the next decision and the next move. And I think having him to my right, I'm always confident that he'll be there when I need him and vice versa. It has been a good relationship. We've developed from Georgetown and I think we've got a good relationship going here as well."
Yaro and the Union return to the pitch on Saturday night to host Vancouver.
