Homegrown Player Spotlight: Cody Baker turns boyhood dream into reality with the Sounders

The Homegrown Player Spotlight series, in partnership with American Family Insurance, celebrates young Seattle athletes who dream of taking their soccer aspirations to new heights. Through dedication, community support and the Sounders’ Development Pathway, players like Cody Baker turn that pursuit into reality before making their way to the First Team.

“It means everything to me,” said Baker. “I feel fortunate every time I'm able to put on the jersey and represent the badge.”

Growing up, Baker lived and breathed the sport. When he wasn’t attending Sounders matches as a fan, he was constantly training and playing for his local club, Issaquah Gunners, with one goal in mind: following in the footsteps of Sounders’ legends.

“[On top of] seeing guys like Fredy Montero, guys like [DeAndre] Yedlin, who play here, [then] go abroad, I think just the atmosphere always [made me] dream of playing in front of the fans,” said Baker.

After showing signs of potential at Gunners, Baker had the opportunity to join the Sounders Development Pathway, beginning with the Discovery Program, before finding himself with the Academy side over the course of three years. Fast forward to 2021, his progression eventually led to him signing his first professional contract with MLS NEXT Pro’s Tacoma Defiance where he appeared in 40 matches with 25 starts.

Within two seasons with the second team, the Issaquah native earned opportunities to feature with the First Team on short-term agreements, including two matches in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. It was then that Baker began to see his goal of playing for his boyhood club within reach.

“There were some injuries [on the First Team], and I was fortunate enough to play in Open Cup game[s]. And from there, I played a few [more] games, and in those moments, I proved myself,” said Baker. “So that's kind of when it started to feel like it was a real thing.”

On May 16, 2023, it happened. Baker signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Sounders, with options in 2027 and 2028.

“I think playing for a small club, I never thought it’d be possible to even make Sounders Academy,” said Baker. “And then when I was at Sounders Academy, it still felt like a far reach to play for the First Team, so every step of the way was just a dream come true.”

Since then, the defender has made 35 appearances for the Sounders, while also spending time with Tacoma Defiance to gain additional minutes. Facing a hyper-competitive position group that includes Yeimar, Alex Roldan, Nouhou and Jackson Ragen, he also went on loan to USL Championship side Sacramento Republic in 2025, where he continued to grow his game through the challenges he encountered along the way.

“Definitely a big change for me,” said Baker. “I have been with the club since 2015, so it was my first experience being with outside coaches and kind of seeing a different perspective on the game,” said Baker. “And then also the life aspect of it, moving out the house and being by myself. There were definitely a lot of learning experiences on and off the field.”

Upon his return, he’s been advocating for himself on the pitch with the intention of one day earning a starting position and supporting the team toward another trophy.

“I think I'm an elite defender, and I think that's what I always want to prove,” said Baker. “And then I think about every aspect of my game I want to improve. I want to be a better defender. I want to be better at attacking. I think really, everything, I want to improve, and I want to try to showcase what I can do.”

While he’s only been with the Sounders since the beginning of the 2026 season, Assistant Coach Ricardo Clark has already seen just how impactful Baker is to the team, identifying the strong foundation he possesses that will benefit him in the long-term.

“He brings a good mentality to the group every single day [and] I don't think he misses a beat when it comes to that,” said Clark. “He's a great example not only for young players trying to make it, like he did with the First Team, but also just for the general culture of the club. It's helped him progress and contribute this year.”

Clark recognizes Baker's minutes are sporadic given the competitiveness of his position group but doesn’t hesitate to mention the influence he has once he’s called upon. He specifically calls out Baker’s recent showing when helped the Sounders record a clean sheet in a 1-0 road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on March 15.

“He's able to contribute and help the team win,” said Clark. “And [he was] unlucky, when his one goal got disallowed, unfortunately [in the 86th minute], but I thought it was a total performance.”

The first-year Sounders Assistant coach described him as someone with “game changing quality.”

“No matter what his role is, what he's asked to do, he's going to come and give it 100%,” said Clark. “We're happy to have him with the group.”