Josue

Briceno

Briceño is one of the top prospects in the Tigers’ system, but he will be sidelined for a few months after wrist surgery. Malgeri made it as high as Double-A last year, while Seelinger had a solid season, posting a 2.74 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 75/25 K/BB ratio in 65 2/3 innings out of the bullpen at Double-A and Triple-A.

It’s a bummer for the prospect, who is likely to return to Double-A Erie when he’s able to play again. He hit .167 in 12 spring training at-bats with no walks and a strikeout. Briceño’s the fourth-ranked Tigers prospect per MLB Pipeline and figures to have a real shot at a major league job in the next few years.

Clark and fellow Tigers top prospects Kevin McGonigle and Josue Briceño, who were all promoted earlier this month to Double-A Erie, anchor a junior circuit lineup that is jam-packed with intriguing talents. McGonigle might be the top pure hitter in the minor leagues and has cemented his status as a legitimate top-five prospect for dynasty purposes thanks to his blend of elite plate skills and consistent hard contact. The rest of the lineup features fellow elite shortstop prospect Sebastian Walcott in addition to fascinating slugger Jhostunxon Garcia, also known as The Password. Here’s the full lineup: Clark (CF), Braden Montgomery (LF), C.J. Kayfus (1B), Garcia (RF), Harry Ford (C), Briceño (DH), Walcott (3B), McGonigle (SS), Lombard Jr. (2B) and Parker Messick (P).

Clark, the third overall selection from the 2023 draft class, was hitting .285/.430/.427 with seven homers, 47 RBI and 12 stolen bases in his first 68 games at West Michigan. McGonigle was even better there — slashing a blistering .358/.450/.617 with seven homers, 39 RBI and three stolen bases in just 42 contests. Briceño was no slouch himself, slashing .296/.422/.602 with 15 long balls and 57 RBI. The Tigers own the best record in the American League at the moment and their future continues to look exceedingly bright.

The 20-year-old backstop came out of the gate hot and never slowed down — slashing a blistering .433/.509/.867 with 10 homers, 27 RBI and a 21/15 K/BB ratio over 90 at-bats in his 25 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions. The Tigers sent Briceño to Arizona to get some extra work in after a sprained right knee limited him to just 40 games at Single-A Lakeland. In doing so, they got to see Briceño’s effortless power shine through as he took the league by storm and increased his prospect pedigree.

Briceño is the first prospect to launch double-digit homers in the AFL since Mike Olt accomplished the feat back in 2011. The 20-year-old backstop was limited to just 40 games last season at Low-A Lakeland and figures to open up next year back in the lower minors. His over-the-fence pop is unquestioned and he figures to hit for plenty of power once he arrives in the big leagues. That’s unlikely to happen in 2025, but he’s definitely increased his long-term dynasty appeal with his AFL performance.

Briceño has been among the hottest hitters in the AFL over the last few weeks as the five-hit effort raises his batting average to a surreal .439 mark to go along with an AFL-leading nine round-trippers. The 20-year-old catcher is still at least a year or two away from reaching the big leagues, but the over-the-fence pop has been extremely impressive in the fall showcase.

Briceño walloped his AFL-leading ninth round-tripper in the opening frame as he continues to build a compelling resume for AFL MVP honors. The 20-year-old backstop was limited to just 40 games this past season at Low-A Lakeland due to injury, but has certainly made up for lost time in the fall circuit. He’s a long ways off from the big leagues, but the over-the-fence pop is real and it’s spectacular.

It’s the first three-homer game since 2015 in the AFL. Briceño hit only two homers in 151 at-bats in 2024 with Low-A Lakeland, but he does possess above-average power in his left-handed bat. The 20-year-old is considered one of the top hitting prospects in the Detroit system, and while he’s at least a few years away, there’s enough offensive upside to suggest keeping him on dynasty/keeper radars right now.