Orlando City SC selected Orlando native and Academy product Santiago Patiño with the third overall pick in the first day of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The Lions made two other additions in round two, selecting defender Kamal Miller with the No. 27 pick and midfielder Tommy Madden with the No. 38 pick on Friday in Chicago.
Patiño, 21, returns to his hometown after four seasons at Florida International University. Most recently, The forward was named to the watch list for the MAC Hermann Trophy - the award given annually to the country’s top college player - after being named a semifinalist for the award in the previous season. The Colombia-born forward was a three time All-Conference USA selection and, in his junior year, was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, C-USA Player of the Year and the Golden Boot Award Recipient. An All-America honoree, Patiño finished his career at FIU with 37 goals and nine assists over 69 appearances.
Patiño graduated from Freedom High School in Orlando where he was an All-Metro selection all four years and was named the Orange County Athlete of the Year following his senior season.
Miller, 21, was selected with the Lions’ first pick in the second round and joins Orlando following four seasons at Syracuse University. A team captain in his junior and senior years, Miller finished his career with the Orange with seven goals and three assists over 78 appearances. In his sophomore season, the center back led the Syracuse backline to 11 shutouts, the third most in school history. Following his senior campaign, the Canada native earned both All-ACC and All-South Region honors for his defensive efforts.
Internationally, Miller also boasts experience with Canada’s youth national teams.
Orlando closed its day by selecting Madden, out of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, with its second pick in the second round. Madden earned All-Conference honors in each of his four years with the Niners, including a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team. The 21-year-old midfielder guided Charlotte to the postseason in three of his four years and, in 2017, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. He finished his collegiate career with seven goals and nine assists in 72 appearances.
The third and fourth rounds of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, the second and final day of the draft, will take place on Monday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. ET. Orlando holds two more picks, with the opportunity to select at No. 59 and No. 96.