SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When Tigers Class A 1B/C Josue Briceño learned he would be representing Detroit in the Arizona Fall League, it wasn’t long before the 20-year-old had a plan in motion to make the most of the extended playing time.
The 6-foot-4 infielder missed several months of playing time after suffering a PCL strain in his right knee in May. He was reactivated with Lakeland in August, but limited to 40 games during the regular season. Briceño posted just a pair of home runs. But that was still enough production to give a glimpse of the power Briceño might tap into.
“He’s a big boy, no question,” an American League scout said. “That’s real power in that frame.”
With his injury behind him, Briceño viewed his invitation to Arizona as a chance to improve on both sides of the ball and take in the work of some new teammates.
“I enjoy watching the guys already in the Major Leagues,” Briceño said, through an interpreter. “Being able to watch their skills and saying, ‘Okay, maybe I’m going to try to adapt that into my own routines and see if it works out.’ If that doesn’t work out, I can try something else. But being able to watch them and learn has been cool.”
“Also, being able to face pitchers from levels above or teams above has been a great learning experience,” Briceño said. “You learn and you take what you can. You get a sneak peek into their pitches before you get into the upper level.”
After taking the start of the Fall League in stride, on October 12, something clicked.
At the bottom of the second inning, Briceño drove a ball to right centerfield for his first home run of the Fall season. The next inning he sent a ball to right field for his second home run of the afternoon. And then in the bottom of the fifth inning Briceño did it again, sending his third home run of the day over the right field wall.
In Briceño’s mind, it was simply making minor adjustments. But suddenly the Fall League was taking notice. In addition to his work in the gym, the Tigers’ instructors have also placed a focus on how Briceño has been working his lower half.
“It wasn’t just mechanics that we changed in the upper body, but definitely in the knees,” Briceño said. “Small tweaks and mechanics throughout helped engage the power a little bit more. Our coordinators and coaches were asking for me to be a little bit more athletic when it came to my bottom half. I’ve been focusing on a more athletic stance. So, instead of going out and putting the weight on an extended leg, the knee is now bent. It’s just a change in the stance.”
Safe to say, the results speak for themselves. The 20-year-old is competing in the Fall League Home Run Derby. And he is joining organization teammate Thayron Liranzo as representatives for the Detroit Tigers in the Fall League Fall Stars Game.
Over 21 games with the Scottsdale Scorpions, Briceño is leading the Fall League in hits (29), home runs (8), and SLG% (.797), while sitting second in triples (2), RBI (20), AVG (.392), and OPS (1.262).
And in regards to the chances of seeing Briceño start the 2025 season with High-A West Michigan?
Briceño grinned, “Yeah, I think so.”
Rogelio Castillo