The Portland Timbers put in their first training session of the new year today, hitting the pitch at Jeld-Wen Field under a sunny, blue sky. Practice was not overly ambitious today as the team began getting used to playing together again, starting off with a number of passing drills before switching into some short field games and more passing drills.

Role Call

We will forgo the usual "injuries and absences" header here as we all work on coming to grips with all the new faces on the roster. Instead, let's run through the list of who was on hand for the first day of the preseason.

Trialists and Guest Players

The Timbers had three non-roster players with the team today. In addition to Gleeson, Ricketts, and Weber, the Timbers had two keepers training with the team today. The third non-roster player was identified by Caleb Porter as trialist Richie Menjivar, a Salvadoran national team midfielder.

Although Menjivar spent 2013 with the Atlanta Silverbacks, Timbers fans will remember him from the team's scarring 1-0 loss to Cal FC in the US Open Cup in 2012. It was Menjivar's hand ball that gave the Timbers' their penalty kick and a chance to tie the game, only to have Kris Boyd sky the ball into the stands.