Carlos Gruezo

The 23-year-old is a technically skilled holding midfielder who can keep the ball circulating in the middle of the park, but can also dish it out on the defensive side of the ball. He also scored his first two MLS goals in 2018. 

OUTSIDE MLS: Gruezo joined Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart from Ecuadorian outfit Barcelona SC in 2014, signing a four-year contract with the German club. In the fall of 2014, Gruezo scored his first goal for Stuttgart in a 4-1 victory over Freiburg, becoming the first player from Ecuador to score in the Bundesliga.

INTERNATIONAL: Made his debut for Ecuador’s senior national team as a second-half substitute versus the Netherlands on May 17, 2014. A few weeks later, he was named to Ecuador’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. He has earned 17 caps for Ecuador.