Wasatch Soccer Sentinel

In an early preseason article, I chose Bobby Wood to be RSL’s breakout player of the year. With a confident exuberance, I declared that, “At 29 years of age, Wood has something to prove and may yet still have USMNT aspirations. I’d be shocked if he didn’t score double digit goals for us this season.” I chose poorly.

Wood would only score 3 goals, have 1 assist, and only play in 14 matches during the 2022 RSL regular season. A player that has been plagued by injuries, Wood continue that trend with a left adductor injury during the RSL vs. San Jose match on June 18; that would have him needing surgery later that week. Wood was thought to only miss 2-3 months at the time, but after a series of setbacks after beginning to train with the team, Wood did not see the field again in the 2022 season.

Woods’s numbers weren’t great even before the injury sidelined his season. He was also one of RSL’s highest paid players at over $1 million in total compensation for the 2022 season. Expectations were high from both the fan base and presumably from the front office and coaching staff, but unfortunately Wood could not find form before his injury.

I was not entirely surprised when RSL chose to decline his option for the 2023 season. The numbers just did not add up, but it does add another chapter to what's getting to be a pretty long book of unsuccessful strikers/forwards the club has brought in over the last 7 or so seasons. Wood was entered in the MLS Re-Entry Draft and was selected by the New England Revolution, then signed to a one-year deal.

While this is the end of Bobby Wood’s tenure with RSL, I’ll remember his goal that knocked Sporting Kansas City out of the playoffs last season with great fondness. Thanks, Bobby.

2022 Statistics

• Goals: 3
• Assists: 1
• Matches Played: 14
• Minutes: 990