July 22, 2021, was a monumental day for the Seattle Sounders in more ways than one.
With the team’s first-ever victory at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium, came the opportunity for two Academy products to prove their worth with the First Team.
16-year-old Reed Baker-Whiting did exactly that.
“His ability to walk into a situation like that convinced everyone that this guy definitely has a future,” said Director of Development Wade Webber.
Fast forward to today, the now 19-year-old has become a valuable component to the Seattle side in the fullback position.
Baker-Whiting describes the Austin FC win as a significant turning point for him in terms of his career, but Webber saw potential in him long before he was a part of the First Team.
“The first I heard of him was when there was an academy game, and a critical penalty kick, and he did a Panenka,” said Webber. “I've always felt that to do that, you have to have a lot of confidence in yourself that you can pull it off…it's this idea that he has the belief in himself, and I don't think that's changed.”
The belief in himself coincides with his willingness to enhance his game. Baker-Whiting quickly rose through the ranks of the Sounders development pathway, earning his first professional contract with Tacoma Defiance at the young age of 15. In transitioning to a higher level of play, he recognized the extra effort that was needed to continue on an upward path toward the First Team.
“What I've seen in his development is just his singular focus on self improvement,” said Webber. “I remember the pandemic year of 2020, and when we [returned to] training it was strange where players had to be kind of isolated from each other. Some players came early, some stayed late, but Reed did both and would just work on his left foot.”
He continued, "The singular nature of him, focusing on ‘What I have to do to get better, and I can do this,’ has allowed him to play in games when other players who don't have that mentality would shrink from the occasion.”
This mindset earned him a First Team, Homegrown contract one year later, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve such a feat.
“It was an amazing feeling, and it felt like a big step forward in what my dream is as a soccer player,” said Baker-Whiting.
Whether he is coming off the bench or occupying a starting spot, the Seattle native’s presence on the pitch has become significant since joining the team in 2021.
“He's pretty relentless,” said Webber. “He's got a good focus, he doesn't lose concentration in games and if he plays out wide, he might be matched up against a two-way player, someone who really likes to get forward and doesn't hesitate to get back, and Reed can match that.”
Baker-Whiting believes his game has evolved since growing physically and transitioning into a wider, defensive role.
“When I first signed, I was a kind of small, skinny, technical winger or a No. 10, and now that I've grown, I've become a lot stronger and faster and switched to being a fullback," said Baker-Whiting. “And so, I think 1v1 defending has become a big part of my identity that wasn't there before, and then also being able to get past people, getting in behind, and crossing, has definitely changed my profile to being someone who can make an impact on both sides of the ball, out wide.”
But with advancements in his game, also came roadblocks along the way. Baker-Whiting pulled his hamstring twice last season, during what he described as “the best he was playing for the First Team.” The injury continued to linger into the 2024 preseason, when he pulled it again at the team’s training camp in Spain.
“That point was really difficult, because I felt like playing soccer was so far away for a lot of that time, especially the day I injured it the third time in Spain,” he said. “I remember just walking off the field and in the locker room and throwing my cleats at the wall…I was just so frustrated.”
Through his support system, along with his own perseverance, however, he was able to surpass the grueling period and return to what he was working toward prior to the injury.
“There were a lot of people who helped me keep going and keep working throughout the whole rehab,” said Baker-Whiting. “And now that I'm back, I feel very confident and better physically and soccer wise than where I was when I started.”
Baker-Whiting has come a long way since joining the Sounders pathway at 12-years-old, and his journey is far from over. While he hopes to one day compete in Europe, his main focus is with Seattle right now.
“My goal is to make the biggest impact with the Sounders as much as I can,” said Baker-Whiting. “We have a really good team and a really great group of guys, and so I feel very fortunate to be here where I think I can get minutes for myself through working hard and earning them.”
