SUPERDRAFT 2023: Chicago Fire FC did not pick until the third round and the 64th pick overall due to trading their first round pick to Orlando for Chris Mueller the previous season and their second round pick to Nashville for an international slot this season. With that 64th pick, the Fire selected midfielder Noah Egan from Vermont. Egan scored eight goals as a midfielder for Vermont and helped to lead the team into the top-5 of the United Soccer Coaches 2022 men’s soccer season poll for the first time in program history.
Three picks later (67th overall), the Fire were up again and this time they went towards Sheridan Road by selecting midfielder Billy Hency from Loyola Chicago. Hency played five seasons for the Ramblers, starting 73 of his 80 games. The 23-year-old redshirt senior scored 27 goals and logged 24 assists throughout his collegiate career. He was voted 2022 Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year, and First-Team All-Conference, receiving All-Conference recognition in four consecutive seasons, with three straight Conference Player of the Year awards. Hency finished the past season as the conference leader in points per game (1.36), and was second in total points (21), tied for second in assists (7), and tied for fourth in goals (7).
Finally, in with the 76th pick over, the Fire selected midfielder Wilmer Cabrera Jr. from Butler. Cabrera, Jr., who also played for USL League Two’s Rio Grande Valley Toros, played at Butler University from 2019-2022. A three-time Big East First-Team selection, Cabrera was voted the Big East Freshman of the Year in his first season. He also spent three seasons at IMG Academy in Florida, trained at the Colorado Rapids Academy from 2011-2016 and also played for the Houston Dynamo Academy.
FIRE APPOINT NEW PRESIDENT: Also on Wednesday, Chicago Fire FC tapped Dave Baldwin as President of Business Operations. Baldwin replaces Ishwara Glassman-Chiern as the head of the Fire’s non-sporting operations and report directly to owner Joe Mansueto.
“I am extremely grateful to Joe Mansueto for the opportunity to join the Chicago Fire,” said Baldwin. “It’s an honor to be joining the team during such a pivotal time in its history. Between the consistent growth that MLS has experienced over the last decade, the Fire’s recent move to Soldier Field, and the 2026 World Cup set to be held in North America, there’s never been a better time to join the sport and to help grow one of the League’s original clubs. I’ve spoken with Georg and I’m excited to support his efforts as we look to bring another championship to the great city of Chicago. I’m looking forward to joining the team and meeting our Fire supporters soon!”
Baldwin was previously Chief Ticketing Officer for the NFL’s Washington Commanders where he served as a key member of the senior leadership team and was responsible for overseeing the strategy and operations for the team’s ticketing efforts as well as securing major events, including world class concerts and the 125th anniversary of the Army vs. Navy football game (scheduled for 2024). Additionally, under Baldwin’s leadership, the Commanders ranked second in the NFL in new club seats sold and third in new annual suites sold this season.
Prior stops include being Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service for Illitch Sports + Entertainment, overseeing the ticket operations for the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, and for the Miami Dolphins where during his tenure, the team saw its total ticket revenue increase by 75 percent and was ranked first in the NFL in new season tickets sold five seasons in a row and new suites sold four seasons in a row.
