Acquired
Hedges was selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.
Languages Spoken: English
Professional
2021: Hedges appeared in 20 MLS games and started in 16 of those. Currently, Hedges is the all-time leader in games played, games started, and minutes played for FC Dallas. Recorded a total of 1,438 minutes played, during that time Hedges managed to find the back of the net on one occasion. His lone goal came in the 1-2 loss at home vs. Real Salt Lake on October 27. During the season, Hedges won 60% of duels he faced, and recorded a 63.6% in headed duel percentage. Hedges also kept two clean sheets throughout the year and has 29 interceptions.
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2020:* On August 16 vs. Nashville tied former Dallas Burn player Jason Kreis in regular season appearances with 247. On August 21 vs. Houston Dynamo, Hedges surpassed former Dallas Burn player Jason Kreis record for most regular season appearances with 248. Recorded his only assist of the year in the 4-1 win vs. Colorado Rapids on September 16. Hedges assisted Mosquera in the 41st minute. Appeared in 19 MLS regular season games and started in 18. Also started in the two MLS Playoff matches for FC Dallas. Converted the sixth penalty of the shootout vs. Portland Timbers on November 22. Made the MLS Team of the Week in weeks 6 and 23.
2019: Started and appeared in 33 MLS regular season games, scoring one goal and recording one assist. Also scored in the 4-0 win against Oklahoma Energy FC at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Scored the first goal during the second half of the playoff match against Seattle Sounders on Oct. 19. Made MLS Team of The Week for Week 8 following his performance (seven clearances, one interception and one recovery) against Atlanta on April 20. Hedges started in the 2019 MLS All-Star game against Atlético Madrid. Hedges surpassed Jason Kreis former record in minutes and games started for FC Dallas with 20,848 minutes and 236 starts. Led FC Dallas in blocked shots (32) and total clearances (140).
2018: Hedges appeared in 33 MLS regular season games, one playoff game, two CONCACAF Champions League games and two U.S. Open Cup games. He scored three goals and notched one assist across all competitions. Hedges was a second-half substitute in the 2018 MLS All-Star game against Juventus on Aug. 1. Named to the MLS Team of the Week following a 2-0 win on April 21 vs. Philadelphia. Scored his first goal of the season on July 21 vs. Houston. Scored a game-winning goal for his second of the season and led the team in defensive clearances and interceptions vs. Vancouver Whitecaps on Sept. 23. Had eight clearances and three interceptions vs. SKC on Oct. 21, leading FC Dallas in both categories. Scored a goal and led the team with three clearances in Dallas’ only playoff appearance of the season vs. Portland Timbers on Oct. 31.
2017: Hedges started in 27 regular season games, four CONCACAF Champions League games and one U.S. Open Cup game. Scored two goals and was one of five players who found the back of the net in the season finale against LA Galaxy on Oct. 22, scored in the 41st minute. Anchored the back line that recorded nine shutouts and started in all of Dallas’ clean sheets. Was selected by All-Star and Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic, along with Hernan Grana, to represent the MLS in the MLS All-Star Game. Named to the MLS Team of the Week following a 0-0 draw in Sporting Kansas City on March 11 with a team-high six clearances and three interceptions, allowing only two shots on target. Had MLS Team of the Week honors for Week 10 and Week 31. Recorded 2,425 minutes played.
2016: For the third consecutive season Hedges was named FC Dallas Defender of the Year. Scored one regular-season goal in a 4-0 win over Orlando City SC on July 4 and added two vital goals in Dallas’ Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship run – the first tied the semifinal match against the Galaxy, 1-1, in overtime, the second came in the 40th minute of FCD’s 4-2 victory against the New England Revolution in the final. Found the back of the net in an eventual 5-2 win against Suchitepéquez, which pushed Dallas through to the quarterfinal round of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League tournament. Anchored a back line that recorded 12 shutouts, the second-most in MLS behind Colorado’s 13 and was on the field for 11 of Dallas’ 12 clean sheets. Dallas allowed an average 0.88 goals per game with him on the field that number rose to 2.25 goals per game without. FC Dallas finished the regular season with a 13-4-9 record in matches he started.
2015: Started 34 of 35 matches played this season. Scored only goal of the season in the 77th minute vs. Montreal Impact on May 23 and recorded one assist in the 86th minute vs. LA Galaxy on Sept. 27. Played 61 minutes versus Sporting KC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2014: Since making his professional debut on April 5, 2012, Hedges appeared in 93 of FC Dallas’ 97 regular season matches. Earned MLS Team of the Week honors a team-high five times. Named team captain by head coach Oscar Pareja. Matched career highs in games started (32) and goals (3). His first career assist was a game-winning assist in a 2-1 win against Toronto FC on April 19.
2013: Logged career highs in games played (33), games started (32) and minutes played (2793), leading FC Dallas in all three categories. Scored three goals.
2012: Made his professional debut on April 5 vs. New England Revolution after being subbed on for the final 19 minutes. Named Soccer by Ives’ Rookie of the Week following Dallas’ 2-1 win over Vancouver on Sept. 15. Hedges (1,932 minutes) overtook Zach Loyd (1,769 minutes in 2010) for the most minutes played by a Dallas rookie in the 18th minute of Dallas’ 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on Oct. 7. He finished the season with 2,022 minutes played and three goals.
International
2017: Capped four times by the U.S. Men’s National Team, played in international friendlies against Venezuela for a 1-1 draw on June 3 and Ghana (2-1 win) on July 1. Later returned for the 2017 Gold Cup and started in the 3-2 win against Martinique and the 2-0 win against El Salvador.
2015: Made his USMNT debut on February 8 in a friendly versus Panama when subbed in on the 72nd minute.
College
Hedges started 85 matches during his college career. He began his college soccer experience at Butler University, where he played three seasons, scoring 12 goals and compiling 72 shots as a defender. Hedges scored six goals and had one assist, while starting all 20 games as a member of a stout Tarheel defense, which won the 2011 NCAA Championship.
Recognitions
Hedges has earned many recognitions throughout his eight seasons with FC Dallas starting in 2014 when he was named the youngest captain in FC Dallas history. Hedges was named to the MLS Best XI for two consecutive season (2015, 2016) and was honored as the 2016 MLS Defender of the Year. He has been named to the MLS All-Star squad for three consecutive seasons (2017, 2018, 2019) as a coach’s pick and started alongside former FC Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman this year against Atlético Madrid. Hedges has also received FC Dallas Defender of the Year honors four times (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018) and was named FC Dallas Team MVP in 2018.
