Josue Briceño is moving up in the MLB prospect landscape, and that could mean he soon could move up in the Detroit Tigers farm system.
Briceño continues to earn praise from national evaluators, on Tuesday landing on Baseball America’s list of 25 of the “biggest early risers” among prospects in 2025. Also making the list is former Okemos standout Caleb Bonemer, a shortstop in the Chicago White Sox system.
The 20-year-old Briceño entered Tuesday hitting .264 with a 1.001 OPS for high Single-A West Michigan, highlighted by a three-home run night late last month against Dayton in which he also stole home — a feat not seen in the minor leagues since at least 2005, and in the majors since 1901.
He has clubbed 13 home runs and driven in 40 runs in 40 games for the Whitecaps while playing catcher and first base.
“Briceño has long faced questions about whether he’ll stick behind the plate,” writes Baseball America’s Jesús Cano. “Few are questioning his potent bat, which has been red hot dating back to the 2024 Arizona Fall League. The 20-year-old became the first player to reach 10 HRs in the AFL since 2011, and has smashed 13 home runs this season, which ranks second in all of High-A.
“He’s made some key swing adjustments that are now translating into more consistent airborne contact off the bat, leading to a 173 wRC+ through 40 games. His bat may soon be ready for the upper minors.”
Bonemer, meanwhile, is in his first season in the minors after the White Sox selected him in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft (No. 43 overall). The 19-year-old is slashing .278/.419/.473/.892 for low Single-A Kannapolis, and has cracked Baseball America’s list of top-100 prospects at No. 87.
He has five home runs among 20 extra-base hits, 34 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 49 games, entering Tuesday.
“Whispers about Bonemer’s improvement started in spring training and have reached a full-blown fervor,” Baseball America’s Mark Chiarelli writes. “The 19-year-old has torched Low-A pitching, ranking fifth in the Carolina League with a 151 wRC+ and third in wRAA (14.9). He’s made swing adjustments — flattening his plane and adding a bit of rhythm — that, combined with his physical strength, have produced standout contact metrics, especially against fastballs. Once seen as a potential first-rounder, Bonemer fell to the White Sox in the second round in 2024. So far, it’s looking like a steal.”
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