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Sandy • A week removed from the opening of the summer transfer window, Real Salt Lake made a roster move Wednesday. A relatively unexpected one. The club announced a six-month loan of forward Devon Sandoval to Rayo OKC of the NASL effective immediately.

Sandoval, 25, made 10 appearances in RSL's first 18 regular-season outings, only two of which were starts. RSL general manager Craig Waibel said Sandoval recently expressed a desire to the coaching staff and front office to play more minutes this season after starting a season-high 17 matches in 2015, scoring four goals and registered two assists. The acquisition and current form of Designated Player Yura Movsisyan cut into minutes that a year ago belonged mainly to Sandoval and former RSL striker Sebastian Jaime.

"He came in and we had a really good discussion about what his desire was," Waibel said. "When it all came down, he had a decision to make. He felt like Rayo OKC was a better chance for him to play considerable minutes for the remainder of the year."

While he saw time with RSL's USL affiliate Real Monarchs (four starts, one goal and one assist), the move to Rayo OKC should better serve Sandoval, Waibel said.

"He's a fourth-year player in our club and has played considerable minutes with the first team, so playing with the second team doesn't serve his purpose of development in this scenario that it does many others," Waibel said.

Asked if the midseason loan would affect Sandoval's long-term future with RSL, Waibel said it would not. Per usual, the entire roster will be evaluated when RSL's 2016 season comes to a close, whenever that may be. This move, Waibel explained, could help Sandoval's productivity on the field for the remainder of the NASL season.

"This is a good opportunity for me to get consistent playing time. I'm excited to play in Oklahoma City," Sandoval said in a club release. "I'm on good terms with the organization and Craig Waibel, Jeff Cassar and my teammates have all been very supportive. It's a good opportunity and you never know what can happen."

It could also make RSL more apt to make another move of its own now that the overall roster number continues to dwindle. Rookie forward Emery Welshman is out indefinitely after undergoing hip surgery last week and midfielder Sunday Stephen remains in the early stages of his 6-to-8 week recovery from facial surgery two weeks ago.

On the heels of the Sandoval loan, will RSL have a roster addition coming?

"I'd be surprised if we don't at this point," Waibel said. "There are some things you don't see coming, you know? This isn't something that was in our plans for a number of months … It's one of those situations where it does force our hand a little bit. We were never looking to stay stagnant. It certainly does give us a little bit more urgency in terms of making a move."

Sandoval was chosen 29th overall by RSL in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of New Mexico. In 72 MLS appearances since 2013, he has seven goals and three assists. Now with Rayo OKC, he'll be the latest of a growing former RSL contingent joining Robbie Findley, Sebastian Velasquez, Pecka and Rauwshan McKenzie.

"Adding Devon will provide strength in areas I think we have struggled so far," said Rayo OKC coach Alen Marcina in a club release Wednesday. "Devon provides presence on the attack and is extremely intelligent, hungry and ambitious. As a young guy, it is refreshing to see his team first mentality. We welcome him to the Rayo Family."

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani