Trey Sweeney

Trey Sweeney's Biography

Trey Thomas Sweeney, born on April 24, 2000, embarked on his journey to becoming a renowned American professional baseball shortstop for Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). His journey commenced in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was raised and nurtured his love for baseball at an early age. He attended St. Xavier High School, where he honed his baseball skills to perfection. He especially had an impressive senior year, with a batting average of .389, 41 Runs Batted In (RBIs), and 18 stolen bases which led St. Xavier to win the state championship.

Despite his stellar high school performance, Eastern Illinois University was the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship. Determined to follow his passion, Sweeney decided to play college baseball for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Over the course of three seasons, Sweeney gradually made a name for himself in college baseball. He started off as a newcomer, swiftly moving up the ranks to become a starter during his freshman year.

Not only did he manage to bat .266 with a total of 61 bases, but he also contributed significantly to the team’s overall score with 27 runs and 24 RBIs. This brilliant performance earned him a spot on the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) All-Freshman team. Following the successful season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Lafayette Aviators of the Prospect League, where he continued to impress, averaging .354/.453/.524 in 257 plate appearances.

However, things took an unexpected turn the following year when his sophomore season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, Sweeney managed to keep his batting average at .351. The following season saw Sweeney’s best performance to date when he was named the OVC Player of the Year. This came after he managed to hit .382 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, resulting in him being a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.

This level of astonishing performance didn’t go unnoticed, and in 2021, Sweeney was selected by the New York Yankees as the 20th overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. Sweeney signed a contract with the Yankees on July 19, 2021, and was quickly assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Yankees. He began his professional career on a high note, batting .261/.384/.584, with seven home runs and 14 RBIs over just 32 games.

His impressive performance promoted him to the Tampa Tarpons of the Low-A Southeast. He continued his intensive play into the subsequent season, starting 2022 with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A South Atlantic League. Sweeney took his talents to the Double-A Somerset Patriots after hitting 14 home runs and 51 RBIs across 100 games.

In a surprising turn of events, on December 11, 2023, the Yankees decided to trade Sweeney to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sweeney used this opportunity to further his skills and was chosen to participate in the inaugural “Spring Breakout” minor league showcase during spring training in 2024. During his time with the Triple–A Oklahoma City Baseball Club, Sweeney hit .255 in 96 games with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs.

On July 30, 2024, Sweeney was traded alongside Thayron Liranzo to the Detroit Tigers in a deal for Jack Flaherty. He broadcasted his skill in 11 games for the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, batting .381/.447/.667, with two home runs and nine RBIs, plus four stolen bases. Recognizing his sheer talent and potential, on August 16, he was promoted to the Major Leagues for the first time. Not only was he added to the 40-man roster, but he also got to make his MLB debut against the New York Yankees, the team that had drafted him originally.