Sporting Kansas City has signed Swope Park Rangers midfielder Felipe Hernandez and defender Camden Riley to Short-Term Agreements, making them available for the club’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round match against Minnesota United FC on Wednesday night at Allianz Field. The contest will kick off at 7 p.m. CT and stream live on ESPN Plus.
Per MLS rules, clubs may sign players from their USL Championship affiliates to Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) for U.S. Open Cup, Concacaf Champions League and exhibition matches.
Hernandez and Riley are set to join a Sporting Kansas City side that has won the U.S. Open Cup four times, tied for the most among MLS clubs. Sporting previously hoisted the title in 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017, winning the latter three under the guidance of Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes.
Hernandez, 21, has amassed 10 goals and nine assists in 70 career appearances for the Rangers since turning professional in 2017. His nine assists are tied for the most in club history, while his five goals this season are a team-best. Hernandez appeared in all four playoff matches during SPR’s run to the 2017 USL Cup Final and helped guide the side to its third consecutive postseason appearance last fall.
Born in Ibague, Colombia, and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Hernandez joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2014 from Academy affiliate club Sporting Nashville Heroes. He starred at the U-16 and U-18 levels and featured periodically for the United States U-19 Men’s National Team from 2016-2017.
Riley, 22, was selected by Sporting with the No. 45 overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft but did not sign for the club. He inked his first professional contract with the Rangers in February and has started 11 matches for head coach Paulo Nagamura’s side, earning time in the center back and defensive midfield positions. He opened his professional scoring account with a goal in a 2-2 draw against Memphis 901 FC on May 25.
A native of Dallas, Riley previously starred for the University of the Pacific, recording 19 goals and 10 assists from 2015-2018 as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) signs Swope Park Rangers midfielder Felipe Hernandez and defender Camden Riley to Short-Term Agreements through Wednesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Minnesota United FC.
VITALS
Felipe Hernandez
Position: Midfielder
Born: 6/8/1998 (21 years old)
Height: 5-7
Weight: 135 lbs.
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Birthplace: Ibague, Colombia
Citizenship: USA, Colombia
Twitter: @Fe1ipe98
Instagram: @fe1ip3
VITALS
Camden Riley
Position: Defender
Born: 8/20/1996 (22 years old)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175 lbs.
College: University of the Pacific
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @camdenriley2
Instagram: @camdenriley
