RealGM

When you come to Major League Soccer as a Designated Player, the pressure is on to perform from Day 1.

If those early games prove to be a struggle, the questions come in quickly: Does the signing just need more time to settle into his new surroundings? Is the player going to prove to be an expensive bust? We've all seen both scenarios play out, with the analysis sometimes unforgiving.

Of course, you don’t need to worry about any of that if you have a dream debut like the Vancouver Whitecaps' Pedro Morales, last year’s MLS Newcomer of the Year.

Three days after being officially unveiled as the Whitecaps newest DP last March, the Chilean came on and made quite an impression in the final 25 minutes of Vancouver's 4-1 opening-day demolition of the New York Red Bulls, scoring the 'Caps' fourth and final goal and assisting on their third.

For a player many were previously unaware of, it was a statement of intent for the season to come. Despite showing visible signs of fatigue as the year went on after 15 straight months of playing, Morales led the Whitecaps with 10 goals and 12 assists. His performances were key as the Whitecaps finished last season with their best MLS point total, a playoff spot and their first berth in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Now well rested, and with a year of MLS experience under his belt, the question many are asking is: Can the 'Caps captain get even better in 2015?

"I've been working to get much better," Morales told MLSSoccer.com recently. "You can talk about more pressure for more goals, more assists. I've been playing well, but I've been working hard and I feel good.

The Vancouver Whitecaps added some firepower to their already potent attack on Tuesday, signing Japanese international striker Masato Kudo on a free transfer.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per league and club policy.

Kudo, 25, is the all-time leading goalscorer for J-League club Kashiwa Reysol, with 92 goals in 260 total appearances. He led Kashiwa Reysol to the J1 League championship in 2011.

"Masato has a very good goalscoring record and we are always looking at adding to the group," Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. "He has a natural ability to find space in the box, which generates goalscoring opportunities. He is technically good with both feet and, as always required, he is a hard working player. Masato can play as a lone forward, or in a partnership, and is able to play wide when called upon."

Kudo joins a Whitecaps squad that already boasts some of the most exciting attacking talent in MLS, including Kekuta Manneh, Cristian Techera, and Octavio Rivero. However, after lighting up the league for most of the season, the attack sputtered down the stretch, scoring just seven goals in their final eight regular-season matches and being shut out four times over that stretch. Come the playoffs, they continued to struggle and were ousted by the Portland Timbers after failing to score in their two-match aggregate series.

Kudo might offer a solution next year.

"I am thrilled to join Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the new season," Kudo said in a statement. "I am hoping to score as many goals as possible and help lead the team to victory. I am also really looking forward to playing in front of the great supporters at BC Place."

Kudo comes to Vancouver with a track record of success. Beyond his exploits in league play, he has scored one goal in three appearances for Kashiwa Reysol as they finished fourth at the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup. The goal came against Auckland City in the quarterfinal playoff match.

He also has 10 goals to his name in 27 appearances in the AFC Champions League.