PHILADELPHIA – The New England Revolution made a pair of selections in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft today, adding Western Michigan University midfielder/defender Brandon Bye (8th overall) and University of Wisconsin midfielder/defender Mark Segbers (9th overall). Both players are expected to join the Revolution in Foxborough for the start of preseason training on January 22.
New England also holds the 78th overall pick in this year’s SuperDraft, which will resume for its third and fourth rounds via a conference call on Sunday.
Bye, 22, recorded 22 goals and 19 assists in 67 appearances across four seasons with Western Michigan University. A team captain during his senior season, the Portage, Mich., native was named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist after pacing the MAC with 12 goals and 31 points while also setting career highs in appearances (21), starts (21), and assists (7). He led WMU to its first MAC regular season championship, NCAA Tournament win, and national top-five ranking.
"This is quite an experience."#NERevs 8th overall selection @Brandon_Byepic.twitter.com/QofBlrZaYG
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) January 19, 2018
Bye earned an array of accolades in 2017, including United Soccer Coaches Division I National Scholar Player of the Year, MAC Player of the Year, and a pair of First Team All-American nods from the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News. The 6'0", 175-poiund forward/defender was a standout at the 2018 MLS Combine in Orlando, Fla., clocking in as the only player to place in the top 10 in speed (4th), agility (3rd), and power (8th) tests.
Segbers, 21, was a four-year starter at Wisconsin making 77 total appearances and 72 starts after graduating from St. John Vianney High School in St Louis, Mo. Segbers finished his career with 16 goals and 22 assists and recorded at least three goals and three assists in each of his four seasons. In his senior season, the St. Louis native helped lead the Badgers to the third round of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. He appeared in 21 matches, all starts, and recorded five goals and seven assists, garnering a Second Team All-Big Ten Conference selection.
"It's a dream come true to be here today."#NERevs 9th overall selection @urMARKgetSEGgopic.twitter.com/uCB5bz4R8P
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) January 19, 2018
Segbers impressed as a freshman for Wisconsin, earning selections to the 2014 All-Big Ten second team as well as the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Like Bye, Segbers placed highly at the MLS combine, posting top-10 performances in the speed (7th) and power (7th) tests.
Transaction: New England Revolution select midfielder/defender Brandon Bye (eighth overall) and midfielder/defender Mark Segbers (ninth overall) in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
