VANCOUVER, B.C. – It's safe to say that Tim Parker's rookie MLS season has exceeded his expectations.
Drafted 13th overall by the Vancouver Whitecaps in this year's SuperDraft, Parker didn't really know what to expect as he made his journey to the pros, simply targeting getting some playing time in MLS and "a couple of starts."
With 14 MLS appearances for the Whitecaps to date, along with starts – and his first pro goals – in Amway Canadian Championship and CONCACAF Champions League matches, it's been quite the year for the Hicksville, New York native.
"To be honest, I didn't really have too many goals to reach other than try to get as many games as I could," Parker told MLSSoccer.com. "Whether that was at MLS or USL level, which I thought I would have been involved in a lot more than I was this year. But I'm thankful that I got the opportunities that I did at the MLS level, and I made the most of them."
Described by Carl Robinson as "the best player at the combine," the Whitecaps courted Parker early, but the 'Caps coach didn't expect him to be still available so late in the first round of the draft. Robinson's pleasant surprise has now turned to sheer delight at how well Parker has adjusted to life in MLS.
Injuries and suspensions are likely to see Parker finish the season as one of the 'Caps first-choice center backs and he's started eight of Vancouver's last nine matches. His excellent form and hard work may have seen him established in one of those positions without that catalyst.
"After I got signed, I wanted to check to see how many center backs they had," Parker laughed. "I saw there five and I knew it was going to be a grind every day. I never came in thinking I'd be the third center back or a starting center back.
"I knew I was going to have to come in and show what I had, even further than what I did throughout my senior year at college, to make sure that they knew that I was able to play at this level."
Parker had never been to Canada before being drafted by Vancouver. Now he feels right at home, both in the city and in the league, to which he's made a smooth transition from the college ranks.
Watching Parker this season, a lot of things stand out. His obvious skill and composure is clear to see, but there's a maturity there that the majority of rookies coming into the league don't have.
That comes in part from being captain at St John's University. But he's looked like a seasoned pro at times, not a player starting off his career.
"I've been very fortunate that I've adjusted pretty well," Parker admits. "But I also think that it ties back to my college days and my coaches expecting a lot of me and asking a lot of me, to the point where then I start to expect a lot out of myself."
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Vancouver have kept five clean sheets this year with Parker in the back line and he's looked comfortable alongside all four center-back partners that he's had this season.
Parker's form and composure has continued to impress, and he's hoping it may have caught the eye of US national team staff.
The defender was previously involved with the national team at Under-18 level and having watched the US U-23s' recent Olympic qualifying campaign, Parker would love to be involved in the next year's playoff with Colombia for a final place in Rio.
"I've had a good year and it's kind of setting a base for where I can be and it's setting me a little bit of a standard," Parker told us. "Here, I can build on it. Hopefully the US team see me building on it and hopefully they can see potential. If not, that's how it's going to be and that's fine.
"But I hope that one day my name gets called in and I'm able to make the most of the opportunity."
