With the seventh pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, Minnesota United selected former Indiana forward Mason Toye.
After one season in Bloomington, Toye made the decision to go pro after signing a Generation adidas contract with MLS. He led the Hoosiers in goals, and was also tied for the Big Ten lead, with 10. Toye also added two assists and provided five game-winners for IU.
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In his only season for IU, Toye burst onto the scene. He earned a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's First-Team Freshman Best XI, and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten.
The South Orange, New Jersey native was in and out of the starting XI early on. However starting in mid-September, Toye started every game through the end of the season.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Toye is still just 19-years-old and has the raw talent to eventually grow into a regular mainstay in any MLS system. He fits in as a true center forward who possesses good ball skills and showed his finishing skills in Bloomington.
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What This Means for Minnesota United
This was a bit of a surprise pick for Minnesota United. The Loons didn't necessarily *need* a forward because they have Christian Ramirez who led the team with 14 goals a season ago.
What Minnesota United did was went out and got one of the best players still available on the board. It will be interesting to see how immediate the impact Toye can have on Minnesota in year two of their existence. Toye will be playing alongside Ramirez and Abu Danladi in the attacking part of the pitch.
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The Loons did struggle last season and posted the 16th best attack in the league. Toye will be able to help in the attack and it will be interesting to see how quickly he gets regular playing time, and how he can adapt to MLS.
He excelled right away in his lone season in Bloomington and there is no reason to doubt he won't be able to excel at some point in the near future for Minnesota United.
