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Union unveil new 2018 jersey, pick three players in SuperDraft late rounds

The Union didn't have any picks in Friday's first two rounds of Major League Soccer's SuperDraft, and were fine with that. They did have some picks in Sunday's third and fourth rounds, and decided to use them.

New Philadelphia Union winger David Accam showed off the team's new 2018 home jersey as he arrived in town for the first time after being traded here.
New Philadelphia Union winger David Accam showed off the team's new 2018 home jersey as he arrived in town for the first time after being traded here.Read moreCourtesy of the Philadelphia Union

Updated January 25 after the official unveiling of the jersey.

The Union didn't have any picks in Friday's first two rounds of Major League Soccer's SuperDraft, and were fine with that. They did have some picks in Sunday's third and fourth rounds, and decided to use them.

In the third round, they selected Wisconsin midfielder Mike Catalano and California Baptist forward Aidan Apodaca. In the fourth round, they selected Dartmouth midfielder Matt Danilack.

All three players are likely to be reserves at best, despite the Union's history of finding good players in late rounds. Jack Elliott went from being a fourth-round pick in 2017 to playing 30 games as a regular starter.

From this year's crop, Apodaca might be the most intriguing. He won the 2017 NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Player of the Year award after scoring 29 goals last fall, the most of any player in any NCAA division.

Of greater consequence was news that the Union made more quietly. When newly acquired winger David Accam arrived at Philadelphia International Airport after his trade to the Union, he was wearing the team's new 2018 home jersey. The vertical gold stripe down the middle that has defined the shirt for the team's entire existence is gone. This year's edition has two-tone navy stripes and gold trim around the neck.

In the weeks before the official unveiling, the Union posted videos on Twitter of the jersey being introduced to academy prospects and team staff, without actually showing the design. Fans gave them an earful for dragging the process out.

Here's what the jersey looks like: