It was a pretty big night for one of the Detroit Tigers’ top prospects.
Josue Briceño, ranked No. 81 among MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects, fell a home run short of history Thursday night for Single-A West Michigan, clubbing three home runs in the Whitecaps’ 14-1 victory over Dayton at Day Air Ballpark.
Briceño, 20, hit a solo home run to left field with two outs in the first inning to stake the Whitecaps to an early lead, adding another solo shot with one out in the fourth inning — this time to right — to push the lead to 2-0.
West Michigan blew the game open against the Cincinnati Reds’ affiliate with a six-run fifth inning. Briceño contributed a run-scoring double in that outburst, before walloping his third home run of the game in the seventh, a two-run shot to center field.
Briceño had a chance to become the first player in Whitecaps history to belt four homers in the game, but was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth. According to Dan Hasty, the Whitecaps’ radio play-by-play broadcaster and head of media relations, Briceño is working through an injury progression. That left the catcher/first baseman with a final line of 4-for-4, with three home runs, four runs scored, five RBIs and 14 total bases to power a 16-hit West Michigan attack.
He also stole home, for his first stolen base of the season.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Briceño is in his first season at West Michigan after an injury-shortened 2024 at low Single-A Lakeland. Briceño tore up the Arizona Fall League, playing exclusively at first base there en route to Most Valuable Player honors and the circuit’s first Triple Crown, mashing to the tune of .433/.509/.867/1.336, with 10 home runs over 25 games.
In 34 games this season at West Michigan, Briceño is hitting .268 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs, boasting a .993 OPS.
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