Another Dose of Canada...in Detroit
CDNSinMILB heads to the Tigers organization for a visit with Trei Cruz
With all minor league seasons rapidly coming to a close over the next couple of weeks, we’ll wrap up 2023 with a Canuck within the Detroit Tigers organization. The next CDNSinMILB post will most likely be the first of a small series recapping the 2023 season but all those options are under consideration and still TBD at the moment.
Let’s get into it and say How’s It Goin’ Eh? to Trei Cruz…..
***all stats as of SEP 13
TREI CRUZ
Double-A Erie SeaWolves
B/T - S/R, 2B/SS/CF, 6ft-1in/204lbs, 25 yrs (07/05/1999), 2020 MLB Draft (Rd.3, Pick 73) from Rice University
Smurf Synopsis: Switch-hitting, Toronto-born, 3rd generation player, who can play multiple positions up the middle at above-average levels. Trei has started tapping into his power in-game more often with a career-high in HRs this season while getting on base at a better-than-average rate.
2023 YTD: 443 AB, .326 wOBA, 14 HR, 9 SB, 23.6 K%, 14.9 BB%, wRC+ 97
Things to Like:
avg to above-avg wOBA (.326)
avg to above-avg OBP (.332)
excellent BB% (14.9)
avg to above-avg ISO (.158)
Things to Like Less:
elevated K rate (23.6%)
below-avg line drive rate (18.8%)
elevated SwStr% (12%)
Overall Cruz does many things well but not anything specific at an elite level. He has started getting into his natural strength carrying a filled-out frame with little to no physical projection remaining. While he has a new high-water mark for homers in a season, currently at 14 with a career total of 10 coming into the year, he hasn’t increased in K% YoY and has continued to show a willingness to take walks. Definitely like seeing an increase in power without a corresponding jump in strikeouts and SwStr%. Taking a look at batted ball numbers, two things stood out and should be aware of while comparing Double-A numbers from 2022 to YTD 2023:
Line Drive% from 29.4% down to 18.8%
Ground Ball% from 29.4% (yes, Trei had the same Double-A LD & GB% in 2022) up to 37.3%
We don’t like seeing that, especially as he’s now made adjustments at the dish hitting the ball with more power. Let’s have FanGraphs describe why we’d rather see that line drive rate get back to previous levels -
All numbers we’re caring about here, wOBA & ISO, are at their best when the ball is driven or hit into the air rather than on the ground. If we can combine the 2022 batted ball numbers with the improving power displayed in 2023, we really have something to look forward to at the plate heading into next season.
Defensively Trei has played CF/SS/2B/3B this season showing tremendous versatility with the glove. With teams valuing the ability to play more than one position more and more, Cruz has a solid defensive foundation to continue building upon. Ultimately his bat will determine how high he can push his ceiling.
OFP: 45-50
That’s gonna wrap it up for now. Thank you for checking in today and I’ll be talking with you all again in a while. Until the next time, you know what it is…..KEEP IT 80 GRADE.