Trey Sweeney Scouting Report

Trey Sweeney Scouting Report

Background: Trey Sweeney grew up in Kentucky and attended St. Xavier High School, winning state championships in 2016 and 2018. He played his college ball at Eastern Illinois University, earning All-American status as a junior. He was a bit of a late riser, and the Yankees selected him 20th overall in the 2021 draft. He put together two solid seasons in the Yankees system before being traded to the Dodgers in December 2023. The Dodgers then traded Sweeney to the Tigers in the Jack Flaherty deal in July 2024.

Physical Description: Sweeney is listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, but he appears taller and skinnier than that because he’s high waisted and employs an upright batting stance. He shows a fair amount of pre-swing bat movement and a leg kick before every pitch, with no discernable changes with two strikes.

Hit: 40

Sweeney shows above-average bat speed and makes average swing decisions. He handles velocity well, but struggles with breaking balls, particularly low and inside. He does hit the ball hard, but his bat path leads to a high rate of ground balls and lower batting averages. He also has real trouble with left-handed pitching.

Power: 50

Sweeney shows plus raw power. He can backspin the ball and shows an impressive ability to drive it to left and center field. His in-game power is just average because of his all-fields approach and his propensity to put the ball on the ground.

Run: 50

Sweeney has gotten faster and more athletic in pro ball. He gets from home to first in around 4.2 seconds, but he shows above-average speed underway. He’s a savvy baserunner with a quick first step and the ability to steal 15+ bases a year.

Defense: 50

Trey Sweeney is an average defender at shortstop. He doesn’t make many spectacular plays, and he shows average range, but his hands are solid and he has a strong arm.

Arm: 55

Sweeney has enough arm strength handle shortstop or third base. His short arm stroke looks a little unusual, but his throws are strong and accurate.

Overall: Trey Sweeney offers an intriguing mix of defense, power, and speed. He doesn’t possess any one carrying tool, but he looks the part of a solid utility man or a potential second-division regular. There’s still a chance for him to grow into an average regular, but that would likely take some swing adjustments to put more balls in the air and make more contact against left-handed pitching.