Trey Sweeney Bio
Trey Thomas Sweeney is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft and traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 and Detroit Tigers in 2024. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Trey Sweeney was born on April 24, 2000, in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School, where he excelled in baseball. As a senior, he batted .389 with 41 runs batted in and 18 stolen bases, contributing to his high school team’s state championship victory. Sweeney committed to play college baseball at Eastern Illinois University, which was the only Division I school to offer him a scholarship.
Path to Baseball
Sweeney played college baseball for the Eastern Illinois Panthers for three seasons. He became a starter as a freshman and was named to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) All-Freshman team after batting .266 with 61 total bases, 27 runs scored, and 24 runs batted in. After the season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Lafayette Aviators of the Prospect League, where he was named a league All-Star after slashing .354/.453/.524 in 257 plate appearances. Sweeney batted .351 as a sophomore before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a redshirt sophomore, he was named the OVC Player of the Year after hitting .382 with 14 home runs and 58 runs batted in, and he was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award. His performance made him one of the top college batting prospects for the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.
Trey Sweeney Career
Early Career (2021-2023)
The New York Yankees selected Sweeney in the first round, with the 20th overall pick, in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. On July 19, 2021, Sweeney signed with the Yankees and began his professional career with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Yankees. He was later promoted to the Tampa Tarpons of the Low-A Southeast, where he played 32 games and slashed .261/.384/.584 with seven home runs and 14 runs batted in. He opened the 2022 season with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A South Atlantic League and was promoted to the Double-A Somerset Patriots after batting .241 with 14 home runs and 51 runs batted in over 100 games.
Breakthrough (2024)
On December 11, 2023, the Yankees traded Sweeney to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Victor González and Jorbit Vivas. He participated in the inaugural “Spring Breakout” minor league showcase during spring training 2024 and was assigned to the Triple–A Oklahoma City Baseball Club to start the season, where he hit .255 in 96 games with 13 home runs and 62 runs batted in. On July 30, 2024, Sweeney was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he made his Major League debut on August 16, 2024, against the New York Yankees. In 2024, he played 36 games for the Tigers, hitting .218 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in.
Notable Works and Milestones
Trey Sweeney’s signature work includes his performance in the 2024 MLB season with the Detroit Tigers, where he made a notable impact despite being a rookie. He has shown potential with his batting skills and has been recognized for his contributions on the field.
Trey Sweeney Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Trey Sweeney has been recognized for his achievements, particularly during his college years, where he was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.
Trey Sweeney Awards Won
Trey Sweeney has received accolades for his performance in college baseball, including being named the OVC Player of the Year, highlighting his talent and potential as a professional player.
