ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Two former Asheville City Soccer Club players will be back on the professional soccer field next season.
Ryan Baer and Bryce Swinehart will return to Carolina Core FC for the 2027 season after both made an impact with the MLS NEXT Pro club this year.
The two players took different routes to the professional ranks, but both spent time with Asheville City before signing with Carolina Core. Their return for another season highlights the role the Blues have played in helping college players make the jump to professional soccer.
Baer, a midfielder who played at West Virginia University, first joined Asheville City in 2022 and returned for the next two seasons. He was part of the Blues’ 2024 squad that won the club’s first Southern Conference championship and advanced to the national semifinals.
He was selected 28th overall by the Seattle Sounders in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and spent that season with Tacoma Defiance before joining the Richmond Kickers on loan.
After spending 2025 with those clubs, Baer returned to Asheville City in 2026 while looking for another professional opportunity.
He helped the Blues earn their first U.S. Open Cup victory, a 3-1 win over the Greenville Triumph on March 18. He also started two USL League Two matches before signing with Carolina Core.
“After not having a pro contract going into this year, I put so much trust in Scott and Carl,” Baer said, referring to members of the Asheville City staff. “They’ve always had my back when it comes to navigating the professional game.”
Baer appeared in 15 matches for Carolina Core during the 2026 season, starting 13 and playing 1,180 minutes. He completed 88% of his passes and recorded 10 key passes.
He credits Asheville City with helping him prepare for the demands of professional soccer.
“Although Asheville City is an amateur team in reality, they operate and feel like a professional team,” Baer said. “This prepared me greatly for the pro game.”
Swinehart’s path to Carolina Core was a little quicker.
The defender joined Asheville City for the 2026 USL League Two season after playing college soccer at Liberty University and West Virginia.
He made nine appearances for the Blues before signing with Carolina Core, where he started all nine of his MLS NEXT Pro matches. He played 722 minutes, completed 84% of his passes and scored one goal.
Swinehart said the experience he gained in Asheville made the transition easier.
“My time at Asheville more than prepared me for the transition,” he said. “The fan environment and the professionalism of the club made the transition seamless when going to the Core.”
Swinehart said he is looking forward to another season with Carolina Core and the opportunity to continue playing alongside Baer.
“Getting to continue to play alongside Ryan Baer just shows how great a pipeline Asheville is,” he said.
For Asheville City coach Scott Wells, seeing both players continue their professional careers is a point of pride.
He has coached Baer since the midfielder first arrived in Asheville and said the club helped him regain his confidence after setbacks in his professional career.
Wells also praised Swinehart’s dedication and the work he put in during his time with the Blues.
“Another one we have been able to give a platform to,” Wells said of Swinehart. “I am so happy for Bryce, his dedication and sacrifice over the last 6 months shows anything is possible.”
For Baer, the chance to return in 2027 comes after a season of changes at Carolina Core, including the arrival of a new coach, staff and players.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this change and feel like there is so much potential here,” he said.
Carolina Core head coach Jake Davis said both players made immediate contributions in 2026 and that their experience with Asheville City helped prepare them for professional competition.
“We know that North Carolina has a strong soccer scene, and we prioritize recruiting from within the state,” Davis said. “Having seen both Ryan and Bryce compete for Asheville City, we knew what they could bring to Carolina Core.”