Trei Cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #18 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Cruz is the son of former outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of longtime outfielder Jose Cruz. Trei was drafted by the Astros in 2017 and the Nationals in 2019 but opted not to sign either time. After making significant improvements on both sides of the ball his junior year at Rice, Cruz was drafted by the Tigers in the third round and signed for $900,000. After signing, Cruz played in the independent Constellation Energy League before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Cruz has a solid track record of hitting, particularly from the left side, and plus raw power. His extremely aggressive approach has precluded him from getting to that power so far, but the Tigers hope further development will allow him to tap into it in games. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop. His soft hands and plus arm should permit him to stay in the dirt, but his below-average speed makes shortstop a stretch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cruz has work to do to access his power and solidify a defensive position. His hitting ability gives him a solid foundation to work from as he begins his pro career in 2021.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #140 prospect in 2020 draft
  It’s hard to have better baseball bloodlines than that of the Cruz family, both at Rice and in the majors. Cruz’s grandfather, Jose Cruz Sr., played 19 years in the major leagues. His father Jose Cruz Jr. played 12 years in the majors after starring at Rice. Now Cruz (named Trei because he’s Jose Cruz III) has a chance to follow in their footsteps. Trei’s younger brother Antonio also plays at Rice. Trei Cruz has already been drafted twice—the Astros (35th round) out of high school and the Nationals (37th round) last year as a draft-eligible sophomore. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop in college. Some evaluators see his lack of foot speed as limiting him to second or third base as a pro, but a team confident in its player development department may believe it can improve Cruz’s poor footwork. His hands are excellent and his plus arm gives him the ability to make the spectacular play at times. He just struggles to consistently make the routine play and sometimes gets caught in between hops. As a switch-hitter, Cruz is very aggressive. He has plus raw power, especially as a lefthanded hitter, although his in-game power so far has been modest. Cruz has a solid track record as a hitter both at Rice (.296/.405/.482 in three seasons) and last summer in the Cape Cod League (.307/.384/.429). As a switch-hitter who should be at worst an above-average defender at second base, Cruz should slide into the late third or fourth round.
• Ranked #444 prospect in 2019 draft
  Cruz is the son of Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of Jose Cruz Sr. He has a chance to become a third generation pro baseball player as a switch-hitting shortstop with the patience to draw walks, although he also strikes out a lot. He has average power potential as well. A second baseman as a freshman, he's moved over to shortstop for Rice as a sophomore, but he'll likely slide back over to second in pro ball.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Cruz is the son of former outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of longtime outfielder Jose Cruz. Trei was drafted by the Astros in 2017 and the Nationals in 2019 but opted not to sign either time. After making significant improvements on both sides of the ball his junior year at Rice, Cruz was drafted by the Tigers in the third round and signed for $900,000. After signing, Cruz played in the independent Constellation Energy League before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Cruz has a solid track record of hitting, particularly from the left side, and plus raw power. His extremely aggressive approach has precluded him from getting to that power so far, but the Tigers hope further development will allow him to tap into it in games. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop. His soft hands and plus arm should permit him to stay in the dirt, but his below-average speed makes shortstop a stretch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cruz has work to do to access his power and solidify a defensive position. His hitting ability gives him a solid foundation to work from as he begins his pro career in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Cruz is the son of former outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of longtime outfielder Jose Cruz. Trei was drafted by the Astros in 2017 and the Nationals in 2019 but opted not to sign either time. After making significant improvements on both sides of the ball his junior year at Rice, Cruz was drafted by the Tigers in the third round and signed for $900,000. After signing, Cruz played in the independent Constellation Energy League before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Cruz has a solid track record of hitting, particularly from the left side, and plus raw power. His extremely aggressive approach has precluded him from getting to that power so far, but the Tigers hope further development will allow him to tap into it in games. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop. His soft hands and plus arm should permit him to stay in the dirt, but his below-average speed makes shortstop a stretch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cruz has work to do to access his power and solidify a defensive position. His hitting ability gives him a solid foundation to work from as he begins his pro career in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Cruz is the son of former outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of longtime outfielder Jose Cruz. Trei was drafted by the Astros in 2017 and the Nationals in 2019 but opted not to sign either time. After making significant improvements on both sides of the ball his junior year at Rice, Cruz was drafted by the Tigers in the third round and signed for $900,000. After signing, Cruz played in the independent Constellation Energy League before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Cruz has a solid track record of hitting, particularly from the left side, and plus raw power. His extremely aggressive approach has precluded him from getting to that power so far, but the Tigers hope further development will allow him to tap into it in games. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop. His soft hands and plus arm should permit him to stay in the dirt, but his below-average speed makes shortstop a stretch.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cruz has work to do to access his power and solidify a defensive position. His hitting ability gives him a solid foundation to work from as he begins his pro career in 2021.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Cruz is the son of Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of Jose Cruz Sr. He has a chance to become a third generation pro baseball player as a switch-hitting shortstop with the patience to draw walks, although he also strikes out a lot. He has average power potential as well. A second baseman as a freshman, he's moved over to shortstop for Rice as a sophomore, but he'll likely slide back over to second in pro ball.