Sporting KC II signs Academy product and college standout Sebastian Cruz

Sporting Kansas City II announced today that the club have signed midfielder Sebastian Cruz, 22, to a MLS NEXT Pro pro contract. Cruz, who is beginning his pro career after three stellar seasons at Cal State Fullerton, is returning to Kansas City following his development at the Sporting Kansas City Academy from 2016-18.

Born and raised in California, Cruz spent two seasons with De Anza Force in the San Francisco Bay Area before training at Liga MX team Pachuca’s prestigious academy. He then moved to Kansas City in 2016 to join Sporting KC Academy to begin a two-year tenure at the club.

Competing at the U-16 through U-19 levels, the versatile midfielder made a big breakthrough in 2018 by spending the preseason with the Sporting first team in Phoenix, Arizona, an amateur contract with Sporting KC II in the USL championship signed and scored nine goals in 26 games with the U-19s. During his time with SKC II, then known as Swope Park Rangers, Cruz made seven caps and helped the team to their third straight USL Cup Playoffs. In late 2018, Cruz was named the Bob Gansler Academy Player of the Year.

After his time in Kansas City, Cruz began a successful collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton. He started all 20 games as a freshman in 2019, scoring two goals and four assists and helping the Titans win their first eight games for the best start to the season in program history.

After Fullerton’s 2020 campaign was canceled due to Covid, Cruz took another step forward in 2021, adding three assists and leading the team with seven goals, the second-highest in the Big West Conference. Three of his seven goals were match-winners against San Francisco, San Diego and UC Davis.

Cruz ended his tenure at Fullerton with a brilliant junior season last fall. He was the first Titan to directly earn Big West Midfielder of the Year honors and the program’s first player to be named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team. With six assists and a team-high of eight goals, Cruz again ranked second in the Big West Conference goalscoring list as the first team pick of any conference.

With Cruz on board, Sporting KC II now has 18 players who have signed MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts entering the 2023 season.

Sporting KC II roster (as of March 3, 2023)

Led by head coach and longtime Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC II will take on USL championship club FC Tulsa on Saturday at 1pm CT in a continuation of the club’s Central Bank presented continuation of the club’s 2023 preseason. The MLS NEXT Pro regular season begins in late March with an expanded 28-club field and the league fixture list will be released shortly.

Transaction: Sporting Kansas City II signs midfielder Sebastian Cruz to a MLS NEXT pro contract.

Sebastian Cruz
Position: Midfielder
Born: 7/31/2000 (22 years old)
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150 pounds.
Place of Birth: Fresno, California
Citizenship: United States
Instagram: @sebascruz_10