COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 have signed defender Hal Uderitz ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, the club announced today.
“Hal is an important signing for the group. His experience and versatility will be valuable to a team that has a lot of new faces. His ability to settle the game, his competitiveness and his clear ambition make him an exciting prospect,” said Brian Crookham, Rapids 2 General Manager.
Uderitz, 24, joins Rapids 2 after spending two seasons with MLS NEXT Pro side Tacoma Defiance. Uderitz originally arrived in Seattle as the 76th overall pick in the 2022 MLS Draft, joining the Seattle Sounders on January 11, 2022. The defender went on to sign a MLS NEXT Pro contract with Tacoma Defiance on March 18, 2022, scoring two goals in 17 appearances during the league’s inaugural season. In the team’s most recent season, Uderitz put up four goals and one assist for Tacoma in his 26 appearances and helped the team to a first place standing in the Pacific Division and a second place finish in the Western Conference.
The Washington native spent three years with Seattle University where he recorded 13 goals and nine assists across 69 appearances with the Redhawks. He also holds multiple collegiate records with Seattle University, recording the tenth most assists (nine assists), the ninth most goals (13 goals), the seventh most games started (67 games started), the sixth most game-winning goals (6 goals), the sixth most minutes played (6,216 minutes) and the second most penalty kicks made (3 penalty kicks) in program history. Uderitz was also named to the WAC All-Freshman Team in 2018 and the WAC All-Tournament Team and the All-Far West Region Second Team in 2021.
Uderitz is the son of former MLS player Scott Uderitz who spent three seasons with the Kansas City Wizards before retiring in 1999.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids 2 sign defender Hal Uderitz on February 21, 2024.
Hal Uderitz
Pronunciation: YOU-der-its
Position: Defender
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185 lbs
Birthdate: September 16, 1999
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri
Nationality: United States