Detroit’s Trei Cruz is set to make his debut for the Tigers just in time for Father’s Day, completing a rare third generation of Major League outfielders tied to the Cruz family—while a fresh injury to Wenceel Pérez opens the roster door.
DETROIT — The Cruz family has made this day feel inevitable for years, but it still arrives with the shock of timing.
Before Friday’s series opener against the White Sox at Comerica Park, the Tigers called up their No. 22 prospect, infielder/outfielder Trei Cruz. The move gives the Cruz name a third generation in the big leagues—just in time for Father’s Day.
When Trei takes the field. the Cruz family will join a short list of Major League lineages that have pulled off the rare feat of three generations playing in the same sport’s highest spotlight. The Tigers’ call-up puts the Cruz family in the company of 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 such family.
Cruz’s baseball roots run deep. He is the grandson of former Astros great Jose Cruz and the son of former Gold Glove outfielder José Cruz Jr. His own path has carried him through a long stretch of work, setbacks, and small victories that finally hardened into a debut.
Manager A.J. Hinch spoke about what the moment means beyond roster math.
“Really happy for Trei and Trei’s family,” 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?. It’s going to be a really. really cool baseball moment for his family and for all of us on the field.”.
Hinch also framed the call-up as a reward for how Cruz earned it. Trei, 27, was the Tigers’ third-round pick in the 2020 Draft, and the team added him to its 40-man roster last winter after a breakout 2025 season.
That 2025 run came across Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. where Cruz slashed .279/.411/.456 with 33 doubles. 13 home runs. 66 RBIs. 95 runs scored and 17 stolen bases over 127 games. His switch-hitting bat and the ability to play all over the infield and outfield matched the Tigers’ focus on matchups and positional versatility. After opting not to pursue opportunities to play in the World Baseball Classic, he played heavily in Spring Training.
“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’s big-league window didn’t open cleanly earlier in the year. He would’ve been a call-up candidate for 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. That same stretch overlapped with injuries in Detroit to Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter and others.
In Toledo, Cruz looked back at that interruption without letting it define the story.
“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.”.
By the time the next chance came, he was producing again. Cruz has hit .225/.331/.326 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 38 games this season between Toledo and Single-A Lakeland. After returning from the injury, he has batted .279/.347/.465 with the Mud Hens in June.
He said the adjustment back to the highest level is less about hope and more about timing.
“On defense, it’s a little easier to get the rhythm and timing back in rehab games,” Cruz said a couple weeks ago. “But I think just adjusting to getting back into high-level pitching, getting back to being on the fastball, and getting the timing and rhythm part of it is the biggest adjustment.”
It’s not just his moment arriving late—it’s Detroit’s lineup taking another hit at the same time. Cruz’s opportunity has come in the wake of an injury to the Tigers’ lineup.
Switch-hitting outfielder Wenceel Pérez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left orbital fracture after a freak injury during his postgame workout routine Tuesday. A therapy band snapped off its hook and hit him just below his left eye.
Hinch said Pérez is not expected to suffer long-term damage to his eyesight. He is expected to be cleared to travel back to Detroit on Friday and undergo further evaluation.
The call-up also lands as part of a growing wave from the Tigers’ 2020 Draft class. With Cruz joining the team. Detroit will have five members of that class playing for the organization: top overall pick Spencer Torkelson. second-rounder Dillon Dingler. fourth-rounder Gage Workman and fifth-rounder Colt Keith.
The Cruz family will walk into the Father’s Day spotlight knowing how quickly baseball can change. For them, the third generation isn’t just a headline—it’s a family story that finally meets the moment on a major league diamond.
Trei Cruz Detroit Tigers Father’s Day Jose Cruz José Cruz Jr. Wenceel Pérez Comerica Park White Sox 2020 Draft class A.J. Hinch