While there were several key Seattle Sounders who struggled with injury last year, perhaps the most frustrating plight was that of Raúl Ruidíaz. It wasn’t just that the forward was limited to a career low in minutes (1,302 in the regular season), it was that he was sidelined multiple times with muscle injuries. There were at least three separate instances that ended up keeping him out of 20 matches.
The 32-year-old is apparently committed to not letting that happen again. Appearing at MLS Media Day in California, he told reporters “this is going to be a totally different year” and that the Sounders trainers have been impressed with his fitness early in training camp.