Columbus Crew rookie midfielder Alex Grendi figured to take baby steps in his indoctrination to Major League Soccer.
After all, he was just out of the University of Pennsylvania trying to break into a lineup that had 10 of 11 starters back from the MLS Cup win against New York in November and 15 of the 18 top players returning.
Just making the travel squad last week for the season opener at Houston was a big deal to him. Yet, there he was replacing 2008 MLS Best XI midfielder Robbie Rogers in the 46th minute after Rogers strained a hamstring.
"It was real exciting for me," Grendi said. "I was happy to be out there with the top 18 (on the game roster). Anything else was a bonus for me. I was ready to play at any time but I definitely wasn't expecting to get out there."
Even though he wasn't anticipating it, the Crew staff had prepared for the possibility that Rogers' gimpy leg might force him out of the lineup.
"We used Alex in our last preseason game because we thought we might have to use him at Houston," Crew technical director Brian Bliss said. "It came down to that when Robbie had to come out. He came in and did a good job. It's never easy to come in as a sub. It's never easy to come in as a sub your first game as a rookie. He did well."
Grendi held his own on the sandy turf of Robertson Stadium and contributed the second assist on the goal by Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the 81st minute that led to the 1-1 draw.
"I'm trying to contribute any way I can," said Grendi. "With this team in particular it's been a lot easier for me. Some of the more experience guys are really helping out and helping me get acclimated."
He cited left back Gino Padula as being especially beneficial to him in securing the left flank.
"He's been helping me a lot in practice positionally where to be," Grendi said. "I'm still getting used to the styles the guys play because I haven't been here that long. It's moving along but it's a process."
Fortunately for Grendi, he was able to get his MLS debut out of the way quickly and move on.
"It was a tough game on a tough field and then to get thrown in, there were definitely some jitters warming up," he said. "I definitely needed that. I'll be more comfortable the next opportunity I get."
He could get even more minutes when the Crew play host to Toronto FC in the home opener Saturday afternoon. Rogers is listed as questionable and head coach Robert Warzycha said Grendi and second-year developmental player Cory Elenio -- who has nine minutes of MLS experience -- are possible starters.
"Any type of minutes I can get is fine," Grendi said. "The goal is to get as many as possible and get better and move forward as a player."
The Crew selected Grendi in the third round (45th overall pick) in the 2009 SuperDraft after he finished his four years at Penn third on the school's all-time assist list with 20. The Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., native also had eight goals.
"He has a good possession rate because he's pretty clean on the ball," Bliss said. "He's still a little hesitant and a little apprehensive about maybe doing some of the things he was able to do at the combine, which were run at players and serve some balls. It's not that he can't do it. He's trying to fit in a little bit. He serves a very good ball whether it's off the run or off the dead ball, left and right. His downside is his inexperience. He'll get there."
Grendi fills one of the few holes the Crew had last season -- depth behind Rogers.
"He doesn't have to be Robbie Rogers. I think that's a credit to Robert to be able to explain to him, 'Here's what we want you to do,'" Crew president Mark McCullers said. "Here's a kid's first crack at an MLS regular season game and I thought he was very composed.
"When he had an opportunity, he put the ball in the box and good things happened from that. That's exciting to see. It's good to know we've got somebody who's only going to get better from this point forward as he gains more experience."
The biggest adjustment is going from a seasoned leader last year at Penn to picking up the balls and equipment after practice as the new kid on the block.
"It was nice being a senior but now I'm right back to being a rookie. It's a tough transition," he said.
That will change with added years in the league but for now everything is new to him, such as the practice Wednesday in Crew Stadium.
"It was the first time I've seen, been in it," he said. "Hopefully I'll being playing in it a lot this year."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
