The MLS Cup-champion Columbus Crew announced on Friday (March 13) that it has signed midfielder Alex Grendi to a developmental contract. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.

Grendi was selected by the Crew in the third round (No. 45 overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and has trained with the Black & Gold throughout the duration of its preseason camp. He appeared in seven of the club’s nine preseason matches - including a start in place of Robbie Rogers in last Saturday’s final preseason match vs. the Austin Aztex - and picked up a pair of assists in that time.

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The Crew has now made its second selection (No. 45 overall) of the SuperDraft, Pennsylvania University midfielder Alex Grendi. You can see more info about Alex’s college career here.

The Crew has made its first selection (No. 30 overall) of the 2009 SuperDraft, Boston College defender Paul Gerstenberger. You can check out more about Paul and his college career here.

Crew fans, don’t forget to check out the 2009 MLS SuperDraft today at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD. And for those of you who can’t get in front of the TV this afternoon, you can follow all of the draft proceedings on the MLSNet.com Draft tracker.

As of right now, The Black & Gold has three selections in today’s SuperDraft: #30 (Rd. 2), #45 (Rd. 3) and #60 (Rd. 4), but that could always change to due to draft day wheeling-and-dealing, so stay tuned to the Standard for all the latest info.

We’re hoping to get some video with head coach Robert Warzycha and technical director Brian Bliss from today’s SuperDraft, so be sure to check in later to here their thoughts.