HARRISON, N.J. — In order to get his mother on board with his decision to leave college and sign with the New York Red Bulls, Omir Fernandez had to make her a promise. It was a bit of familial diplomacy that resulted in Fernandez becoming a professional and quickly assimilating with the first team.



The 20-year old Fernandez started and went the full 90 minutes this past Saturday in the 1-1 season opener at the Columbus Crew. This comes on the heels of 15 minutes played the week prior in a 2-0 victory over Atletico Pantoja in the CONCACAF Champions League. Fernandez, a product of the Red Bulls Academy, hasn’t looked out of place in either appearance, fully backing up the confidence the club made in signing him as a homegrown player this offseason.



According to Fernandez, the discussions to make the jump to MLS came at the end of his sophomore season at Wake Forest. Red Bulls head coach Chris Armas called him at the end of the season to gauge his thought...