Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
The Who
This is the second of a series of articles on DC United’s newest team members, providing background and what could realistically be expected from them in 2024.
Welcome to DC United
Lucas Bartlett
Lucas Bartlett came to DC United from St. Louis City SC in the same trade that brought in Jared Stroud and sent out Chris Durkin.
The loss of Durkin is disappointing, but it did bring the Black & Red some much needed depth. While not a guaranteed starter, Bartlett has shown some ability in his limited MLS minutes. Bartlett spent last season with St. Louis City SC, where he recorded one assist in fourteen appearances (twelve starts). As a defender he recorded twenty five interceptions and won roughly half of his duels.
Not bad for a player who has had a most circuitous route to MLS. Growing up in Overland Park, Kansas, Lucas Bartlett never was identified by Sporting Kansas City, as a Homegrown player. Instead once he finished high school, he began his collegiate career at Loyola University Chicago, then moved to Drake University in Iowa to get more playing time. Not feeling like he had accomplished everything he was capable of, Bartlett utilized an extra year of eligibility afforded during the COVID-19 pandemic to take a final shot at playing soccer on a big stage, and moved to his third college program, St. John’s University in New York City. There he started all 20 matches for the Johnnies, and finished his collegiate career receiving First-Team All-Big East honors and earning an invitation to the MLS College Showcase after leading the Red Storm to an NCAA Tournament bid.
His showing in the NCAA Tournament was good enough to get him selected by FC Dallas in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. The trouble with this was Bartlett would be behind the likes of Matt Hughes and Jose Martinez on Dallas’s depth chart and he would only make two appearances with FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup.
Therefore the decision was made by FC Dallas to loan him to their MLS Next Pro affiliate, North Texas SC. Injuries limited his playing time and his contract option was declined by FC Dallas despite a fairly strong showing to end the MLS Next Pro season.
As a free agent, Bartlett returned to his Midwest roots when he signed on as a trialist with St. Louis City SC. A strong showing in the preseason as a trialist with St. Louis earned Bartlett a contract, as he was able to demonstrate his ability to play at the MLS level. He came off the bench away at Portland for his first MLS minutes, and then started the next game at home against San Jose.
At 6-foot-3 and roughly 200 pounds, Bartlett definitely has the size to play center back in MLS. He holds his position well, and is able to pick the ball out of the air. In his limited minutes he has shown the ability to play the ball at his feet and make quick short passes. He could improve his long pass, but he isn’t horrendous. Not the fastest center back, he should be serviceable – I like him as a rotation piece in the DC United backline.
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