Galaxy's Franklin Captures Rookie Honors

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Sean Franklin has been named MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year, the league announced Thursday. He appeared in 27 of the team's 30 games this past season, making 26 starts and recording one assist while logging 2,385 minutes on the field, second on the Galaxy only to veteran Chris Klein.

The Galaxy's Franklin stood out all season, despite the club's struggles. [ISI Photos]

"It has been a big week, a very exciting week for me and for my family," said Franklin. "I'm really excited about where I'm at right now.

"I just went out and just played every game hard, whether I was a rookie or not wasn't something that was on the back of my mind. As the year did go on I was getting more comfortable and used to playing."

Taken fourth overall in the 2008 MLS Superdraft out of CSU-Northridge, Franklin garnered immediate attention for his surprisingly solid play early in the season, proving to be the Galaxy's most reliable defender despite being played in the center instead of his normal position on the right. His rise to prominence marked the second straight year that Los Angeles looked to a rookie to lead their defensive efforts; Ty Harden had similar success with the G's in '07 before deciding to retire early to work for a charitable organization.

Despite being on a team that allowed the most goals in MLS in 2008, Franklin's skillful defending has lead to praise from former and current head coaches Ruud Gullit and Bruce Arena, and has most recently earned him a call-up into a training camp under USMNT head coach Bob Bradley. A possibility to play in Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match against Guatemala, Franklin will be vying for his first cap with the senior squad after having made several appearances at the youth level.

His selection as Gatorade Rookie of the Year marks the third time in four years that the award has gone to a defender, with Franklin following in the footsteps of Michael Parkhurst (2005) and Jonathan Bornstein (2006), two of the league's rising talents. Another defender who was named MLS Rookie of the Year - Carlos Bocanegra (2002) - has gone on to have a successful club career in Europe while simultaneously ascending to the captaincy of the USMNT.