The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players to the league's ten inaugural teams. The Inaugural Player Draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996 after each team was allocated four marquee players.
The Columbus Crew selected Brian McBride with the first overall pick.
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| Denotes player who has been inducted to the US Soccer Hall of Fame
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| Denotes player who has been selected for an MLS Best XI team
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Round 1
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 1
| Columbus Crew || bgcolor="#FFFF99"| Brian McBride || F || VfL Wolfsburg
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! 2
| Colorado Rapids || Jean Harbor || F || Seattle SeaDogs
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! 3
| Dallas Burn || Ted Eck || M || Wichita Wings
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! 4
| Los Angeles Galaxy || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Robin Fraser || D || Colorado Foxes
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! 5
| New England Revolution || Iain Fraser || D || Sacramento Knights
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! 6
| Kansas City Wiz || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Mark Chung || M || San Diego Sockers
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! 7
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Mark Dougherty || GK || Hawaii Tsunami
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! 8
| San Jose Clash || Paul Bravo || M || Monterey Bay Jaguars
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! 9
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Matt Knowles || D || Milwaukee Wave
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! 10
| D.C. United || Raúl Díaz Arce || F || Firpo
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Round 2
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 11
| Columbus Crew || Mark Watson || D || Vancouver 86ers
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! 12
| Colorado Rapids || Denis Hamlett || D || Anaheim Splash
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! 13
| Dallas Burn || Tom Soehn || D || Las Vegas Dustdevils
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! 14
| Los Angeles Galaxy || David Kramer || GK || Monterey Bay Jaguars
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! 15
| |New England Revolution || Peter Woodring || D || Hawaii Tsunami
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! 16
| Kansas City Wiz || Peter Isaacs || F || Tampa Bay Cyclones
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! 17
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Peter Hattrup || M || Seattle Sounders
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! 18
| San Jose Clash || Altimont Butler || M || North Jersey Imperials
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! 19
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Troy Dayak || D || San Jose Grizzlies
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! 20
| D.C. United || Shawn Medved || M || Cincinnati Silverbacks
|}
Round 3
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 21
| Columbus Crew || Billy Thompson || F || Tampa Bay Terror
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! 22
| Colorado Rapids || Steve Trittschuh || D || Tampa Bay Terror
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! 23
| Dallas Burn || Lawrence Lozzano || D || Tampico
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! 24
| Los Angeles Galaxy ||Jorge Salcedo || M || Monarcas Morelia
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! 25
| New England Revolution || Bojan Vučković || F || Tampa Bay Terror
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! 26
| Kansas City Wiz || Sean Bowers || D || Anaheim Splash
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! 27
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || John Diffley || D || Long Island Rough Riders
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! 28
| San Jose Clash || Tim Martin || D || Atlanta Ruckus
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! 29
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || bgcolor="#FFFF99"| Peter Vermes || F || New York Fever
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! 30
| D.C. United || Erik Imler || D || Raleigh Flyers
|}
Round 4
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 31
| Columbus Crew || Mike Clark || D || Richmond Kickers
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! 32
| Colorado Rapids || Brian Bates || D || Richmond Kickers
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! 33
| Dallas Burn || Brian Haynes || M || Seattle Sounders
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! 34
| Los Angeles Galaxy || John Garvey || F || Baltimore Spirit
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! 35
| New England Revolution || Marquis White || F || Club Destroyers
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! 36
| Kansas City Wiz || Eric Eichmann || F || St. Louis Ambush
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! 37
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Ivan McKinley || M || Wits University FC
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! 38
| San Jose Clash || Rhett Harty || D || Monterey Bay Jaguars
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! 39
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Jeff Zaun || D || North Jersey Imperials
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! 40
| D.C. United || Richie Williams || M || Richmond Kickers
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Round 5
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 41
| Columbus Crew || Bo Oshoniyi || GK || New York Centaurs
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! 42
| Colorado Rapids || Troy Edwards || D || Myrtle Beach Boyz
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! 43
| Dallas Burn || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Jason Kreis || F || Raleigh Flyers
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! 44
| Los Angeles Galaxy ||Mark Semioli || D || Monterey Bay Jaguars
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! 45
| New England Revolution || Ted Chronopoulos || D || Panionios
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! 46
| Kansas City Wiz || Jeff Causey || GK || Richmond Kickers
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! 47
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Diego Viera || F || C.A. Cerro
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! 48
| San Jose Clash || Paul Holocher || M || Monterey Bay Jaguars
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! 49
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || A.J. Wood || F || University of Virginia
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! 50
| D.C. United || Thor Lee || D || Wichita Wings
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Round 6
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 51
| Columbus Crew || Brandon Ward || M || Hampton Roads Mariners
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! 52
| Colorado Rapids || Scott Cannon || D || Cincinnati Silverbacks
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! 53
| Dallas Burn || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Mark Dodd || GK || Colorado Foxes
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! 54
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Joey Kirk || F || St. Louis Ambush
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! 55
| New England Revolution || Yari Allnutt || F || Irapuato
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! 56
| Kansas City Wiz || Tommy Reasoner || M || San Diego Top Guns
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! 57
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Frank Yallop || D || Ipswich Town
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! 58
| San Jose Clash || Jeff Baicher || F || San Jose Grizzlies
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! 59
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Ted Gillen || M || Richmond Kickers
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! 60
| D.C. United || Brian Kamler || M || Richmond Kickers
|}
Round 7
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 61
| Columbus Crew || Janusz Michallik || M || New York Centaurs
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! 62
| Colorado Rapids || Matt Kmosko || D || Cincinnati Silverbacks
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! 63
| Dallas Burn || Rene Ortiz || M || San Diego Sockers
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! 64
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Harut Karapetyan || F || Los Angeles Salsa
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! 65
| New England Revolution || Robert Ukrop || F || Richmond Kickers
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! 66
| Kansas City Wiz || Scott Uderitz || F || Las Vegas Dustdevils
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! 67
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Frankie Hejduk || D || UCLA
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! 68
| San Jose Clash || Jeff Betts || F || Portland Pride
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! 69
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Zach Thornton || GK || Loyola-Maryland
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! 70
| D.C. United || Mile Milovac || GK || United Serbs
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Round 8
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 71
| Columbus Crew || Todd Yeagley || M || Richmond Kickers
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! 72
| Colorado Rapids || Scott Benedetti || F || Colorado Foxes
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! 73
| Dallas Burn || Gerell Elliott || M || Sacramento Knights
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! 74
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Curt Onalfo || D || Tampico
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! 75
| New England Revolution || Darren Sawatzky || F || Oregon Surge
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! 76
| Kansas City Wiz || Nyanforth Peters || F || FC Locarno
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! 77
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Tayt Ianni || D || Raj Pracha FC
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! 78
| San Jose Clash || Dave Salzwedel || GK || Los Angeles Soccer Club
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! 79
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Eddie Soto || F || Los Angeles Salsa U-23
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! 80
| D.C. United || Kris Kelderman || D || St. Louis Ambush
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Round 9
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 81
| Columbus Crew || Ramiro Corrales || D || California Jaguars
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! 82
| Colorado Rapids || Ian Butterworth || D || Norwich City
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! 83
| Dallas Burn || John Kerr, Jr. || M || Walsall
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! 84
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Manny Motajo || D || Washington Warthogs
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! 85
| New England Revolution || Tom Lips || D || New York Fever
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! 86
| Kansas City Wiz || Uche Okafor || D || Ironi Ashdod
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! 87
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Mike Duhaney || M || University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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! 88
| San Jose Clash || Victor Mella || F || Colo-Colo
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! 89
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Giovanni Savarese || F || Long Island Rough Riders
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! 90
| D.C. United || Clint Peay || D || University of Virginia
|}
Round 10
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
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!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 91
| Columbus Crew || Marcelo Carrera || F || Canton Invaders
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! 92
| Colorado Rapids || Felipe Rodriguez || M || Pumas
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! 93
| Dallas Burn || Jimmy McGeough, Jr. || D || Wichita Wings
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! 94
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Joey Leonetti || M || Portland Pride
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! 95
| New England Revolution || Richard Weiszmann || D || North Bay Breakers
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! 96
| Kansas City Wiz || Alan Prampin || F || Raleigh Flyers
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! 97
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Flávio Ferri || F || San Antonio Pumas
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! 98
| San Jose Clash || Henry Gutierrez || M || Myrtle Beach Boyz
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! 99
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Pat O'Kelly || D || North Jersey Imperials
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! 100
| D.C. United || Ben Crawley || F || Richmond Kickers
|}
Round 11
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 101
| Columbus Crew || Shane Battelle || D || St. Louis Knights
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! 102
| Colorado Rapids || Lance Hill || F || New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers
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! 103
| Dallas Burn || Jorge Flores || M || Paramount High School
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! 104
| Los Angeles Galaxy || John O'Brien || M || Anaheim Splash
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! 105
| New England Revolution || John DeBrito || M || New York Fever
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! 106
| Kansas City Wiz || Phil Wellington || GK || Cocoa Expos
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! 107
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Derek Backman || M || Tampa Bay Cyclones
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! 108
| San Jose Clash || Oscar Draguicevich || D || Cleveland Crunch
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! 109
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Mickey Kydes || M || New York Fever
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! 110
| D.C. United || Said Fazlagić || D || NK Rovinj
|}
Round 12
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
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! 111
| Columbus Crew || Pete Marino || F || Bayer Leverkusen (Regionalliga)
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! 112
| Colorado Rapids || Eric Puls || F || St. Louis Knights
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! 113
| Dallas Burn || Richard Farrer || F || New Mexico Chiles
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! 114
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Adan Villalvazo || F || Cerritos Inter-America
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! 115
| New England Revolution || Jim Adams || GK || Cleveland Crunch
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! 116
| Kansas City Wiz || Kevin Koetters || M || Kansas City Attack
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! 117
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Nelson Vargas || M || Florida Eagles
|-
! 118
| San Jose Clash || Gabe Garcia || F || Myrtle Beach Boyz
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! 119
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Khary Stockton || F || Richmond Kickers
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! 120
| D.C. United || Daniel de Oliveira || M || Firpo
|}
Round 13
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
|-
! 121
| Columbus Crew || Paul Young || M || Charleston Battery
|-
! 122
| Colorado Rapids || Josh McKay || D || Hawaii Tsunami
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! 123
| Dallas Burn || Jimmy Glenn || F || Cincinnati Silverbacks
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! 124
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Brad Wilson || M || 1. FC Saarbrücken
|-
! 125
| New England Revolution || Geoff Aunger || M || Vancouver 86ers
|-
! 126
| Kansas City Wiz || Billy Baumhoff || D || St. Louis Knights
|-
! 127
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Zen Luzniak || M || Fort Lauderdale Strikers
|-
! 128
| San Jose Clash || Rafael Amaya || D || Colorado Foxes
|-
! 129
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Andrew Restrepo || D || Tampa Bay Cyclones
|-
! 130
| D.C. United || Matthew Olson || GK || Everett BigFoot
|}
Round 14
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
|-
! 131
| Columbus Crew || Laurence Piturro || D || Long Island Rough Riders
|-
! 132
| Colorado Rapids || Khalil Azmi || GK || New Hampshire Ramblers
|-
! 133
| Dallas Burn || Steve Keller || M || Rockford Raptors
|-
! 134
| Los Angeles Galaxy || David Beall || M || San Diego Sockers
|-
! 135
| New England Revolution || Antonio Superbia || M || Jersey Dragons
|-
! 136
| Kansas City Wiz || Terry Woodberry || D || Dallas Sidekicks
|-
! 137
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Scott Budnick || GK || :de:SSV Vorsfelde
|-
! 138
| San Jose Clash || Tom Liner || GK || P.S.V. Schwartz-Weiss
|-
! 139
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Nidal Baba || M || Clemson University
|-
! 140
| D.C. United || Sterling Wescott || F || Wichita Wings
|}
Round 15
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
|-
! 141
| Columbus Crew || Todd Haskins || M || Washington Warthogs
|-
! 142
| Colorado Rapids || Brian Hurley || M || Tampico
|-
! 143
| Dallas Burn || Ed Puskarich || D || Milwaukee Wave
|-
! 144
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Garfield Shaw || F || Washington Warthogs
|-
! 145
| New England Revolution || Derk Droze || F || Arica
|-
! 146
| Kansas City Wiz || Samuel Ekeme || D || Monterrey La Raza
|-
! 147
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Goran Hunjak || F || Kansas City Attack
|-
! 148
| San Jose Clash || Carlos Farias || F || Unattached
|-
! 149
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Jorge Acosta || F || New York Fever
|-
! 150
| D.C. United || Garth Lagerwey || GK || Hampton Roads Mariners
|}
Round 16
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|-
!width=7%| Pick # !!width=22%| MLS team !!width=20%| Player !!width=9%| Position !!width=22%| Previous Team
|-
! 151
| Columbus Crew || Manny Catano || M || Des Moines Menace
|-
! 152
| Colorado Rapids || Joel Shanker || M || St. Louis Ambush
|-
! 153
| Dallas Burn || Gabe Gentile || M || Dallas Texans
|-
! 154
| Los Angeles Galaxy || Carlos Jaguande || M || Jersey Dragons
|-
! 155
| New England Revolution || Jorge Olamendi || M || Los Angeles Salsa
|-
! 156
| Kansas City Wiz || Ken Snow || F || Tampa Bay Terror
|-
! 157
| Tampa Bay Mutiny || Greg Lalas || M || Avenir Beggen
|-
! 158
| San Jose Clash || Kevin Grimes || M || Raleigh Flyers
|-
! 159
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars || Walter Bustamante || M || Jersey Dragons
|-
! 160
| D.C. United || Carlos Garcia || M || Myrtle Beach Boyz
|}
References
Sources
- 1996 season: salaries, drafts - latimes.com
