Sounders star Lodeiro wins 2016 MLS Newcomer of the Year award

The Seattle Sounders owe plenty to mid-season signing Nicolas Lodeiro - who joined in the summer and propelled the team to a final-four spot in the MLS playoffs - and now the league has acknowledged the midfielder's efforts by voting him the 2016 MLS Newcomer of the Year award winner.

Lodeiro earned the lion's share of the vote, beating fellow newcomers with a 36.9 percent tally, 15 percent more than second-placed Ola Kamara of the Columbus Crew. He also pipped LA Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme and Colorado Rapids attacker Shkelzen Gashi for the nod.

Since joining the team in July, Lodeiro has amassed 13 regular-season appearances, scoring four goals and recording eight assists in that time. He combined with Jordan Morris to turn around the Sounders' poor opening half and helped lift the club into the postseason, even after the team lost Clint Dempsey to a health-related issue down the final stretch.

Lodeiro kept that form strong in the playoffs, scoring three goals in three matches to take his team past Sporting Kansas City in the Knockout Round and then MLS Supporters' Shield winner FC Dallas in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Uruguay international joined the club as a Designated Player and will now turn his attention to the Rapids in the Western Conference Championship.