Near-Record Number of MLS Rookies Contributing

I guess it's to be expected as the league gets bigger and bigger, but this year's rookie class is on pace to equal or break a record. What is it? The most rookies who started at least half of the regular season games. The record is 10, and already 9 rookies this season are virtually certain to hit that mark (15 starts): Darrius Barnes (NE) Matt Besler (KC) Sam Cronin (TOR) Stefan Frei (TOR) Omar Gonzalez (LA) Jeremy Hall (LA) Chris Pontius (DC) Rodney Wallace (DC) Steve Zakuani (SEA) Breaking the record is going to be hard, as some less hyped players will have to lock down a starting role. It's probably up to the foursome of Kevin Alston (NE), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA), George John (DAL), and Nick Zimmerman (NY) to grab and keep starting roles. Alston is a good bet; the others less so. But even if the number stays at 9, that's still the third highest total in league history: Rookies who started 50% or more regular season games 1996 7 1997 1 1998 10 1999 5 2000 8 2001 6 2002 4 2003 7 2004 8 2005 8 2006 10 2007 5 2008 1 Total 80 It's especially noticeable this year after the lack of impact rookies a year ago. Average is 6.2 per season. 1996 KC Gutierrez, Diego 1996 NY Joseph, Miles 1996 NE Keegan, Paul 1996 DC Peay, Clint 1996 DC Pope, Eddie 1996 TB Ralston, Steve 1996 LA Vanney, Greg 1997 TB Duhaney, Mike 1998 SJ Barrett, Wade 1998 MIA Cullen, Leo 1998 TB Houser, Chris 1998 CHI Kotschau, Ritchie 1998 MIA Mastroeni, Pablo 1998 DC Olsen, Ben 1998 NY Petke, Mike 1998 DC Talley, Carey 1998 NE Torres, Johnny 1998 KC Vermillion, Scott 1999 KC Brown, Chris (2) 1999 SJ Clark, Jamie 1999 LA Elliot, Simon 1999 MIA Heaps, Jay 1999 SJ Mulrooney, Richard 2000 CHI Bocanegra, Carlos 2000 LA Califf, Danny 2000 DC Convey, Bobby 2000 KC Garcia, Nick 2000 COL Key, Lance 2000 NE Pierce, Rusty 2000 MIA Rimando, Nick 2000 LA Victorine, Sasha 2001 COL Herdsman, Stephen 2001 DC Lisi, Mark 2001 DC Namoff, Bryan 2001 DC Nelsen, Ryan 2001 DAL Suarez, Ryan 2001 DC Ziadie, Craig 2002 CHI Gray, Kelly 2002 CLB Martino, Kyle 2002 NY Moore, Jeff 2002 COL Stewart, Jeff 2003 COL Borchers, Nat 2003 NY Clark, Ricardo 2003 SJ Dunivant, Todd 2003 NY Magee, Mike 2003 NE Noonan, Pat 2003 CHI Pause, Logan 2003 CHI Ralph, Damani 2004 COL Cila, Jordan 2004 SJ Cochrane, Ryan 2004 NE Dempsey, Clint 2004 DC Gros, Josh 2004 CLB Marshall, Chad 2004 NY Parke, Jeff 2004 DC Perkins, Troy 2004 CLB Wingert, Chris 2005 DC Boswell, Bobby 2005 RSL Cutler, Kenny 2005 CHV Guzan, Brad 2005 LA Ihemelu, Ugo 2005 NE Parkhurst, Michael 2005 CHI Rolfe, Chris 2005 KC Sealy, Scott 2005 CHI Segares, Gonzalo 2006 RSL Ballouchy, Mehdi 2006 CHV Bornstein, Jonathan 2006 RSL Forko, Willis 2006 CLB Garey, Jason 2006 KC Groenwald, Matt 2006 CHV Kljestan, Sacha 2006 CLB Moss, Brandon 2006 COL Peterson, Jacob 2006 CHI Robinson, Dasan 2006 NY Wynne, Marvell 2007 TOR Boyens, Andrew 2007 TOR Edu, Maurico 2007 LA Harden, Ty 2007 KC Harrington, Michael 2007 NY Richards, Dane 2008 LA Franklin, Sean