Oscar Sorto

How Acquired: Signed by the Galaxy as a Homegrown player on December 11, 2012.

A member of the LA Galaxy Academy’s U-18 team that captured the 2011-12 SoCal Division title, Sorto was the first defender to be signed directly from the Galaxy Academy and fourth player overall. Sorto trained with the Galaxy first team for most of the 2012 season and appeared in seven MLS Reserve League games in addition to his play with the Galaxy U-18’s prior to signing.

MLS Highlights

2016: Sorto made no appearances for LA Galaxy in 2016. Instead, Sorto featured in 20 matches for LA Galaxy II helping the USL side to its third straight playoff berth in three years of existence.

2015: Sorto appeared in three games for the Galaxy in 2015 while also spending time with LA Galaxy II. Sorto started three games for the first team in home games against Houston and Vancouver and in an away match against Vancouver.

2014: Sorto made his debut on April 6 against Chivas USA at StubHub Center, entering the match in the 75^th minute in place of Todd Dunivant in the Galaxy’s 3-0 victory over their Southern California rivals. Additionally, Sorto was loaned to Galaxy II in USL for much of the season, where he received regular minutes and helped the club finish third place during the regular season en route to reaching the semifinals of the USL Playoffs.

2013: Sorto did not appear in any MLS matches for the Galaxy in his first season with the club.

International Highlights

Sorto received his first call up to the senior USMNT National Team in January 2014 under Jurgen Klinsmann along with teammate Gyasi Zardes. Sorto has also represented the U.S. on the U-23 and U-20 level.

Youth

Sorto, who graduated from Manual Arts High School in June, joined the Galaxy Academy ahead of the start of the 2011/12 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season and played in 24 games for the Galaxy U-18’s that year, scoring one goal while leading the team to a 21-5-4 record and a berth in the Development Academy playoffs. Capable of playing anywhere in defense, Sorto was named to the Western Conference U-18 Academy Starting XI Team— joining Galaxy teammate Jose Villarreal on the squad.

After the Academy season was completed in July that year, Sorto traveled to Sweden to train with Hammarby of the Swedish Superettan, who were coached by former Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter. Sorto trained with Hammarby for two weeks and played in two games with their U-21 squad. In April, he accepted a scholarship offer to attend Cal State University, Bakersfield before electing to pursue a professional contract.

Prior to joining the Galaxy Academy, Sorto played for Pateadores, a club based in Costa Mesa, Calif., helping their U-18 squad win the Development Academy National Championship for the 2010/11 season. He played in 31 games for the club’s U-16’s and U-18’s that season, making 27 starts and scoring three goals while earning a berth on the Development Academy U-16 Starting XI, which was made up of the best players at their position from around the nation, and the West Conference Starting XI.