Sporting KC’s Erik Palmer-Brown, Jon Kempin selected for MLS Homegrown Game

Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown and academy product Jon Kempin were selected Wednesday for the inaugural Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game, which will be played Aug. 4 in Portland.

Part of a 20-player roster, Kempin and Palmer-Brown will be among Major League Soccer’s top homegrown players against the Portland Timbers under-23 team as part of the 2014 All-Star Game festivities.

Palmer-Brown, 17, made his MLS debut with Sporting KC in May, when he became the youngest player in MLS history to start a regular-season match at defender. A resident of Lee’s Summit, Palmer-Brown has made five appearances for the club this season.

“It’s a privilege to play in the inaugural Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game,” Palmer-Brown said in a news release. “There are many great homegrown players in Major League Soccer, and I look forward to playing alongside them in Portland.”

Kempin, a resident of Leawood, is currently on loan with OKC Energy FC, the USL Pro affiliate of Sporting KC. The 21-year-old goalkeeper has five shutouts in 13 matches.

“It’s a huge honor to be named to this roster and a huge honor to represent your hometown team,” Kempin said in a release. “I’ve been blessed with that opportunity as a homegrown player and I look forward to continuing to represent Kansas City for many years to come.”

This story was originally published July 9, 2014 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Sporting KC’s Erik Palmer-Brown, Jon Kempin selected for MLS Homegrown Game."