Commerce City, Colo. - The Colorado Rapids today selected midfielder Baggio Husidic from the Chicago Fire with the 13th pick in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry draft. After all other teams either picked a player or passed, the Rapids then selected defender Hunter Freeman from the Houston Dynamo.

Husidic was drafted by the Fire in 2009 from the University of Illinois-Chicago. In his three seasons in Chicago, the Bosnian-born midfielder scored five goals in 50 regular season appearances, which included 32 starts. He has U.S. residency status and does not count as an international per MLS rules.

Freeman was originally drafted by the Rapids with the 7th overall pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Virginia. After two season playing both right and left back with the Rapids, Freeman was traded to the New York Red Bulls for two drafts picks and then later Toronto to end the 2008 season. The versatile defender then signed with IK Start in the Norwegian Premier League, where he played for two years before returning to MLS in 2011. He started 22 games for Houston on their way to the MLS Cup final.

The Re-Entry process was introduced in 2010 as part of the collective bargaining agreement between the MLS Players Union and Major League Soccer to allow eligible players the opportunity to either stay at their current contract numbers by joining another team (Stage 1) or negotiate a new contract with a new club (though Stage 2).

The Rapids will be required to make a genuine bona fide offer to Husidic and Freeman within seven days. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached, the Rapids will hold the right of first refusal for both players in MLS.

Last year, the Rapids selected unsigned defender Tyrone Marshall from the Seattle Sounders in Stage 2 of the Re-Entry draft and agreed to new terms shortly thereafter.

Defender Mike Holody was the only Rapids player available in the Re-Entry draft and was not selected, meaning he is now available to negotiate with any MLS team.

BAGGIO HUSIDIC'S MLS STATS:

Height: 6' 1"

6' 1" Weight: 172 lbs.

172 lbs. Birth Date:

Birthplace: Velika Kladusa, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Year Club GP GS G MIN A SHT SOG FC OFF Y R 2011 Chicago Fire 18 9 0 794 2 12 3 13 1 2 0 2010 Chicago Fire 22 18 5 1498 3 22 10 25 3 2 0 2009 Chicago Fire 10 5 0 449 1 6 1 1 0 0 0 Career Totals 50 32 5 2741 6 40 14 39 4 4 0

HUNTER FREEMAN'S MLS STATS: