Sporting Kansas City signs Pulskamp as homegrown player. Season opener is Saturday

Sporting Kansas City on Monday signed goalkeeper John Pulskamp as a homegrown player, agreeing with the Bakersfield, California native on a three-year MLS contract through 2022 with an option for 2023.

Just 18, Pulskamp becomes the second-youngest goalkeeper in team history.

Sporting acquired his homegrown rights from the L.A. Galaxy in exchange for $50,000 in 2020 MLS general allocation money. Pulskamp, who stands 6-foot-2, spent two seasons with the Galaxy Academy before turning pro in 2019 with Sporting Kansas City II (formerly Swope Park Rangers) at the USL Championship level.

“We’re very excited about signing a young goalkeeper of John’s quality, and more importantly I’m proud of the way he has bet on himself, worked his way up from Sporting KC II and earned an MLS contract,” Sporting KC manager and sporting director Peter Vermes said in a news release. “Now it’s about taking that next step as a professional, and we believe John will continue to improve as he gains more experience.”

Pulskamp appeared in four of Sporting’s six exhibition matches this preseason. He contributed to shutouts against several opponents during the team’s annual stay in Arizona. Last season, he led Sporting KC II goalkeepers in starts (14), minutes (1,260), wins (four) and saves (45).

Pulskamp is one of 29 Sporting players under MLS contract ahead of the 2020 regular season, which begins Saturday in Canada against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Game time is 9:30 p.m. Central.

Sporting returns to Children’s Mercy Park for its home opener against the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. Central on Saturday, March 7.

This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Sporting Kansas City signs Pulskamp as homegrown player. Season opener is Saturday."