Welcome to the second edition of our new monthly spotlight series, where we’re looking at some of the performers in the USL Championship aged 20 years old and younger in each month of the season. This month’s featured player got a gradual introduction at one of the Championship’s top clubs, but over the past month became a regular contributor to its success.

Diego Luna Finding Broader Spotlight with Locomotive FC

When he signed his first professional contract with El Paso Locomotive FC this preseason, Diego Luna was something new and intriguing.

Surrounded by one of the most experienced rosters in the USL Championship – according to Transfermarkt.com, Locomotive FC’s roster is tied for the second-highest average age in the league behind Miami FC – the 17-year-old was the bright prospect for the present and the future. That potential was in evidence as he made a late cameo in El Paso’s season opener, where he played a key role in 35-year-old Leandro Carrijo’s equalizer against New Mexico United.

Over the month of June, however, what Luna brings to the table has been in full evidence. A former member of the Barca Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona and the San Jose Earthquakes Academy, Luna started four of five contests, notched two goals and one assist, recorded nine key passes and 133 of 151 passes overall, an accuracy rate of 84.5 percent.

Beyond the numbers, though, there has been evidence of a player that loves to create and enjoy the game. In Locomotive FC’s system, that has proven an ideal fit for a player of whom even more should be expected in the coming year.

“Diego hasn’t been ruined yet by professional sports," Lowry told the El Paso Times’ Bret Bloomquist recently. “He wants to play and just score and do good things. And it’s a great attitude to have, particularly in the final third when you want to create and score goals because that’s what the game is about.

“Too often in the professional game you get so wrapped up in not losing that players don’t take risks, or they hold back a little bit, or they choose possession over penetration because they’re a little scared to give the ball away.

“Diego had seven or eight shots himself, he could have had a couple more goals. He created around the box, he was dangerous every time he got on the ball.”

Those instincts have the potential to take Luna to far higher levels in the future, but for now it’s exciting to get to see what he’s going to produce for Locomotive FC every time he steps on the field.

“Every time I got out on the field I make sure I’m having fun,” Luna told Bloomquist. “I think it’s going out and doing my own thing rather than overthinking stuff. … There’s no pressure, it’s having fun and doing what I love. That’s a blessing. It’s not pressure, it’s enjoying it one day at a time.”

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While Luna’s star continues to rise, here are five more young players that have caught our eye over the past month.

Jonathan Gomez, Louisville City FC – It’s proving hard to keep last month’s centerpiece player out of the spotlight right now with Jonathan Gomez having been named in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s preliminary roster for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. On the field, he bagged his first two professional goals and added an assist while continuing his solid defensive performances for LouCity.

Bryce Duke, Las Vegas Lights FC – With one goal and two assists, Bryce Duke helped spark a solid run of form for Lights FC as it kicked off its home slate at Cashman Field with seven points from its first three home games of the season, and the 20-year-old also led all players born in 2000 or later with 16 key passes in the month of June.

Jovanny Bolivar, Loudoun United FC – It’s been a tough go of it overall this season for Loudoun, but in young players like Jeremy Garay – who last Friday signed a Homegrown Player deal with D.C. United – and Ted Ku-DiPietro there have been bright spots. Bolivar is among them after recording three goals and one assist with 10 key passes and 14 shots in the past month.

Sebastian Anderson, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – You probably caught Sebastian Anderson’s beautiful assist on one of Hadji Barry’s goals in the past month, but the 18-year-old U.S. youth international has become a fixture on the back line for the Switchbacks recently and is holding his own defensively, ranking third on the team in player rating this season according to Opta’s statistics.

Gavin Beavers, Real Monarchs SLC – Making his debut aged 16 years, 1 month and 29 days old, Gavin Beavers became the youngest goalkeeper to start a game in the Championship against San Antonio FC on June 26 and almost became the youngest to record a shutout with a five-save performance in a 1-1 draw. We’re looking forward to seeing more as the season progresses for the young shot-stopper.