DETROIT -- The Cruz family of Major League outfielders now has a third generation in the big leagues, just in time for Father’s Day. The Tigers called up their No. 22 prospect, infielder/outfielder Trei Cruz, and put him in their starting lineup for Friday's 4-3 win against the White Sox at Comerica Park.
Cruz, the Tigers’ third-round pick in the 2020 Draft, is the grandson of former Astros great José Cruz and the son of former Gold Glove outfielder José Cruz Jr. When Trei took his spot in right field, the Cruz family joined the Bells (Gus, Buddy, David and Mike), Boones (Ray, Bob, Bret and Aaron), Colemans (Joe, Joe and Casey) and Hairstons (Sammy, Jerry, Jerry Jr. and Scott) as the fifth family to have three generations play in the Major Leagues.
“It’s awesome to be able to say that,” Trei Cruz said. “I know it means a lot to the family, but it means a lot to me to represent the Cruz name in a Tigers uniform.”
Four of those families have included Tigers. Ray Boone was a two-time All-Star third baseman during his six-year stint in Detroit in the 1950s. Joe Coleman was an All-Star pitcher in 1972 during his six-year Tiger tenure after coming over from Washington in the Denny McLain trade. Buddy Bell managed the Tigers from 1996-98.
“Really happy for Trei and Trei’s family,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “From a baseball historical standpoint, how cool is it to have the fifth family that’s going to have three generations of players, some of which have touched this organization?”
Both José Cruz Sr. and Jr. were in the stands behind home plate for the occasion, having flown in from Houston on Friday.
“That's my dream come true, seeing this third generation,” José Cruz Sr. told Detroit SportsNet during the game. “It's very exciting for me. I'm very happy for Trei. He worked hard. I'm happy for him and I hope that he can continue to play good here and play for many years.”
The Tigers added the 27-year-old Cruz to their 40-man roster last winter following a breakout 2025 season in which he slashed .279/.411/.456 with 33 doubles, 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, 95 runs scored and 17 stolen bases over 127 games between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. His switch-hitting bat and ability to play all over the infield and outfield fit well into the Tigers’ emphasis on matchups and positional versatility, and he played heavily in Spring Training after opting not to pursue opportunities to play in the World Baseball Classic.
“Trei brings a ton of versatility,” Hinch said. “He’s someone who hasn’t had it easy on his path here. He was obviously drafted high. He’s gone through a lot of ups and downs throughout his career. He’s never lost his resolve. He’s a good dude. He works hard. I know he’s worked on his swing. He’s worked on his defensive versatility. There’s baseball acumen to him.
“He’s had to work his way here. He three-peated [with Double-A] Erie on his way to here. Again, it shows not everybody’s journey to the big leagues is a smooth ride, but I love that he’s tough enough to handle it and work his way to be here.”
Cruz would’ve been a candidate for a callup to Detroit earlier in the season, but a dislocated right knee suffered on a check swing in Toledo in mid-April cost him a month on the injured list during the same time that Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter and others suffered injuries in Detroit.
“Obviously, you try not to think about the opportunities that were maybe missed at that point,” Cruz said a couple weeks ago in Toledo. “But at the same time, I think everything happens for a reason. I think there is a reason that I went to Lakeland. I think I learned a lot about myself and mentoring some of the young guys down there. I think my body got better being down there for a month, and I think there’s a lot of good to come out of my time in Lakeland. I’m really happy that Gage Workman and Hao-Yu Lee were able to get those opportunities up there; those are two guys I pull for.”
Cruz has hit .225/.331/.326 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 38 games this season between Toledo and Single-A Lakeland. He was batting .279/.347/.465 with the Mud Hens in June after returning from the injury.
José Cruz Jr. said he was at home when his wife called him downstairs with the news from Trei.
“Very exciting,” he told Detroit SportsNet. “I was very happy about it. I was happy for him. He worked really hard for it, just to be able to get an opportunity to come up here to the big leagues and live his dream, really.”
His opportunity arrives at long last in the wake of another injury to the Tigers' lineup. Switch-hitting outfielder Wenceel Pérez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left orbital fracture after suffering a freak injury during his postgame workout routine Tuesday when a therapy band snapped off its hook and hit him just below his left eye.
Pérez is not expected to suffer long-term damage to his eyesight, Hinch said. He is expected to be cleared to travel back to Detroit on Friday and undergo further evaluation.
Cruz became the fifth member of the Tigers’ 2020 Draft class to play for Detroit, joining top overall pick Spencer Torkelson, second-rounder Dillon Dingler, fourth-rounder Gage Workman and fifth-rounder Colt Keith.