May 31, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The game runs through Trei Cruz’s genes, as the Detroit Tigers prospect’s father Jose Cruz Jr. spent 12 seasons at the big league level while his grandfather, also named Jose, had 19 seasons to boast about.

Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) was born in Canada during his father’s six-year tenure with the Blue Jays and he is now suiting up for the double-A Erie SeaWolves.

After a contact-heavy week at the plate, Cruz earns this week’s Canadian Baseball Network minor league Player of the Week. On the week, Cruz led all Canuck minor leaguers in hits (12) and doubles (three) while hitting .571 average. He posted a multi-hit game in five of six contests and reached base in every game, adding five walks and two stolen bases to his resume.

Facing the Altoona Curve at home -- UPMC Park -- he suited up for every game in the six-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates’ affiliate.

Starting the week batting fifth in the lineup, Cruz had a great start against the Curve, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs to help the SeaWolves to an 11-1 victory. His first at-bat produced two runs as the switch hitter smacked a double off Po Yu Chen to left field. Cruz’s next at-bat would produce another double to left field and he later scored to increase Erie’s lead to 5-0. He added another single in the eighth and later scored to increase the SeaWolves’ lead to 9-1.

Cruz continued Wednesday with the shortstop lacing a single to left field on a pitch down and away from Curve pitcher Sean Sullivan. Cruz added another single in the bottom of the seventh and stole second. The Rice University alum would finish the day going 2-for-4.

For Thursday, Cruz was moved to centre field. While he didn’t collect a hit in this contest, he added two walks and contributed an outfield assist. With a Curve runner on first in the top of the seventh, a ball up middle landed in front of Cruz and he used his strong arm to throw to second for the force out, getting the SeaWolves out of the inning.

In the fourth game of the series, the SeaWolves had Cruz in the leadoff spot and he collected two hits with a walk. He started with a single to left field in his first at-bat and added another single in the bottom of the third, a line drive to left field once again. The Curve bested the SeaWolves by a score of 8-3.

Still in the leadoff spot on Saturday, Cruz continued to swing a hot bat with a single through the infield to right in the first. The speedster stole second to put himself in scoring position but the SeaWolves’ efforts came up short. He collected his third double of the week a couple of innings later, this time to centre, but was thrown out trying to steal third. Cruz added a walk and another single in the extra-inning affair, with his knock in the bottom of the 10th scoring the runner on second to tie the game to keep the SeaWolves’ efforts alive. They would eventually lose 4-3.

In the Sunday finale, Cruz led off for the SeaWolves and he had two more hits – singles in the first and fifth. He also collected a walk in the fifth inning to start a six-run inning for the SeaWolves.

While in the field, Cruz spent most of the week at short minus the one outing in centre. He was part of five double plays through the week and committed one error.

For his efforts, the fourth-year pro has earned this week’s Canadian Baseball Network minor league Player of the Week honour.

Former Winners

Opening day to May 6 _ LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC), Guardians.

May 7-12 _ INF Charles LeBlanc (Laval, Que.), Angels.

May 13-19 _ RHP Adam Maier (North Vancouver, BC), Braves.

May 20-26 _ INF Trei Cruz (Toronto, (Ont.), Tigers.

Stats Compiled by Pete Berryman

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Pitchers