Born in Miguel Cabrera’s hometown of Maracay, Venezuela, Briceno signed with the Tigers for an $800,000 bonus as part of their 2022 international class. After mixed results in the Dominican Summer League that year, Briceno’s offensive potential emerged in the Florida Complex League last summer with impressive power, including 13 doubles and seven home runs in 169 at-bats. A late-August move to Single-A Lakeland showed the teenager capable of handling more advanced pitching, including a 109.1 mph double off a 96 mph fastball and several other triple-digit exit velos.
Briceno has a big frame and a big swing designed to extend his arms and pummel balls into the air, but he shows good patience, plate judgment and contact for a teenage power hitter, with walk and strikeout rates in the low-to-mid-teens. He was more of a line-drive hitter upon his arrival into A-ball, with his hardest hits featuring low-teen launch angles. He shows good plate discipline for his age and a large strike zone. He’s capable of hitting around the field, but most of his power goes to the pull side. His defense behind the plate was mixed and led to platoon time at first base down the stretch.
An offensively capable left-handed-hitting catcher would be a massive find for the Tigers on the international market, which is why there’s a lot to like about Briceno’s potential out of a small sample size. His body will be worth watching as he settles into full-season ball, but whatever position he plays, his offense will determine how far he goes. Briceno got off to a solid start in the Florida State League before a PCL sprain in his right knee sidelined him for much of the summer.
