Timbers Select Cicerone and Hernandez in Round 4 of the SuperDraft

The Portland Timbers selected forward Russell Cicerone and defensive midfielder Romilio Hernandez in Round 4 of the MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday morning.

Lacking a pick in the Third Round of the SuperDraft as a result of the trade with New York City that netted the Timbers the rights to Gbenga Arokoyo, the Timbers made two selections in the Fourth Round.

With the 10th pick in the Fourth Round, the Timbers took Cicerone, 22, a forward out of Buffalo who scored 42 goals and notched 22 assists with the Bulls over his four-year collegiate career. Cicerone also led the PDL-champion Michigan Bucks with 12 goals to go with three assists in 12 appearances in 2016.

With the 14th pick in the Fourth Round (acquired from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for the rights to Christian Volesky), the Timbers selected Hernandez, 21, who made 69 starts in defensive midfield and occasionally in defense for the Louisville over his four years with the Cardinals. Hernandez played with the Timbers’ U-23 squad in 2015 and is a former El Salvador youth international.

Both players are expected to be in camp with the Timbers when it opens in Tucson next week, and will likely compete for contract with T2. Notably, however, the Timbers have also signed George Fochive and Wade Hamilton, two late-round draft picks, to the MLS roster in recent years.