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. He made his MLB debut a few weeks later, and was a key piece of Detroit’s unexpected run to the playoffs.

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: 30

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: 55

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: 55

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: 55

Trey Sweeney is an above-average defender at shortstop. He’s not a source of consistent highlight-reel plays, but he is capable of making the occasional spectacular play, and he consistently makes the routine plays. He shows average range, but his instincts are strong, his hands are solid, and he has a decent arm.

Arm: 45

Sweeney has enough arm strength handle shortstop, though his short arm stroke looks a little unusual. He doesn’t wow with velocity, but he has an excellent internal clock and sems to always put himself in position to make accurate throws.

Overall: Trey Sweeney offers an intriguing mix of defense, power, and speed. He doesn’t possess any one carrying tool, but he has shown the ability to play a quality shortstop at the MLB level, which gives him a high floor. 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.

Updated 3/15/25