PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers today announced that forward Bright Dike has been recalled from his loan with the L.A. Blues of USL PRO and that defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste will now join the Blues on a season-long loan. Timbers general manager/interim head coach Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement.
Jean-Baptiste left Tuesday to join the Blues and will be eligible to play in the club’s upcoming road matches against Antigua Barracuda FC on Thursday and Saturday at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Dike returned to training Tuesday with the Timbers.
While on loan, Dike, 25, recorded six goals and two assists in 10 games for the Blues, becoming the team’s leading scorer. He was named the USL PRO Player of the Week in Week 11 after scoring the game-winning goal in back-to-back matches against the Dayton Dutch Lions on June 15 and June 17. With the Timbers this season, Dike has started three MLS Reserve League games, scoring two goals.
Jean-Baptiste, 20, was drafted No. 8 overall by the Timbers in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He has appeared in four MLS matches and scored his first career goal March 12 against the Philadelphia Union. In MLS Reserve League play, Jean-Baptiste has appeared in five games and recorded a goal. As part of the loan agreement, Jean-Baptiste may be recalled at any time.
