Detroit Tigers 2020 MLB Draft: Trei Cruz selected in the third round
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers have selected shortstop Trei Cruz with the 73rd overall pick.
Starting off the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers have selected shortstop Trei Cruz with the 73rd overall pick. Cruz has a bloodline of big leaguers with Jose Cruz Jr. being his father and Jose Cruz, his grandfather.
Cruz is a shortstop who stands 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, and swings the bat from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter. The Rice University product is a Junior who is also the fourth selection of the Tigers draft class. The Tigers follow the previous outfielder draft choice after taking Daniel Cabrera.
While at Rice, Cruz has moved around the infield playing more than just shortstop, continuing the trend of the Tigers taking versatile prospects. His home position is shortstop, but he spent time around the diamond at second base, as well as third base.
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In 2019, Cruz hit .305/.393/.519 with 26 extra-base hits and 44 RBI through 58 games played on the season.
He would play in 16 games during the scrapped 2020 season; he would hit .328/.487/.500 with eight extra-base hits and eight RBI for Rice University.
Scouts seem to like Cruz’s abilities defensively with smooth hands in the infield and strong arm to back up fluent fielding.
His college numbers may not show power, which seems to be the theme for the first three picks, but it is another positive selection for the Tigers.
Cruz is the fourth total selection by the Tigers, and he is the fourth straight position player taken, not a single pitcher touched by the Tigers quite yet.
There are still some pitching prospects who could be pursued, but it is good to see General Manager (GM) Al Avila fixing the lopsided farm system. Avila seems to have realized that the lopsidedness between the pitching and hitting prospects should be fixed at least a little bit.
Trending. Detroit Tigers 2020 MLB Draft: Still work to be to make it a successful draft. light
He is the third player selected tonight by the Tigers and will not be the last, as the Tigers have two picks remaining on the night. The Detroit Tigers will make their next selection in the fourth round with the 102nd overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.