Rice shortstop Trei Cruz has been drafted twice, but he comes back for his junior season and makes our Top 100 Countdown.
Coming out of high school he was taken in the 35th round by the Houston Astros. As a draft-eligible sophomore this past year he was taken in the 37th round by the Washington Nationals.
During his freshman season in 2018 he hit .279 with a .392 OBP to go along with 37 runs scored, 13 doubles, 6 home runs, and 45 RBI.
As a sophomore he hit .305 with 50 runs scored, 11 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 44 RBI, and an OPB of .393.
He spent this past summer in the Cape Cod League hitting .307 with 23 runs scored, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 22 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 140 at-bats with an OBP of .384.
Cruz is obviously a very gifted athlete with tremendous family genes.
I have my doubts that he can stick at shortstop at the next level, but there is no question he is an advanced hitter at the plate with a career OBP close to .400.
If he continues to develop some pop and adds some speed, he’ll go much higher than the 37th round next time around.
