DETROIT -- The Cruz family of Major League outfielders is about to get a third generation in the big leagues, just in time for Father’s Day. The Tigers are calling up their No. 22 prospect, infielder/outfielder Trei Cruz, for Friday’s series opener against the White Sox at Comerica Park, sources told MLB.com.
The Tigers have not yet announced the move.
Cruz, the Tigers’ third-round pick in the 2020 Draft, is the grandson of former Astros great Jose Cruz and the son of former Gold Glove outfielder José Cruz Jr. When Trei makes his debut, the Cruz family will join 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.
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.
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.
His opportunity arrives at long last in the wake of another injury to the Tigers' lineup. Switch-hitting outfielder Wenceel Pérez suffered 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.
Cruz will become 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.