Real Salt Lake’s academy product signing count is up to three this offseason alone after former Stanford University Cardinal Corey Baird became RSL’s most recent homegrown addition.
RSL announced the 21-year-old forward’s signing Friday, making him the 15th homegrown player to sign with RSL. He is one of eight Academy products currently on RSL’s roster.
“It’s a rare thing for a player to win three college championships, so we are proud of Corey for accomplishing that feat, and now we are excited to have that pedigree with our first team,” RSL general manager Craig Waibel said in a team release. “He’s a winner, and he’s the type of guy we want in our locker room.”
Baird helped the Cardinal to three consecutive national titles, claiming the third last month. Stanford became just the second team in Division I history to win three straight national championships. Baird scored 16 goals in 77 appearances during his four seasons at Stanford. He is tied for third all-time in Stanford’s record book with 30 assists.
Baird also has earned several stints with the U.S. youth national teams, beginning at the U-14 level.
“This is an amazing feeling knowing that I’m signing with a team I played with four or five years ago at the academy,” Baird said in a team release. “I’ll be playing with a lot of guys I was playing with then, so it will be good to get back on the field with them.”