RADIO
Josue Briceno Completes Injury-Plagued Season at Toledo
Detroit Tigers catcher prospect Josue Briceno overcame wrist surgery and battled a late ankle injury in what was an injury-plagued age 22 minor league season. Briceno combined between four minor-league levels in 2026 to combine for a .250 batting average with nine homers and 29 RBI and 23 runs in 42 total games. Briceno played 15 games at Triple-A Toledo and hit just .196 in a very small sample size. He hit .297 in 17 games at Double-A Erie prior to his call up to Toledo. Briceno is the No. 4 prospect of the Tigers and has a 50-grade hit tool with 60-grade power. The catcher position is in good shape in Detroit with All-Star Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia. Briceno is a power bat with limited speed that could potentially shift to first base or find a spot at DH if needed, but he is still a big part of the future plans for Tigers brass and could make a 2027 debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Dillon Dingler's Power Has Faded Down the Stretch of 2026
Across 598 plate appearances in 2026, Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler is hitting .244/.304/.450 with 27 home runs, 89 RBI, and 71 runs scored. Overall, the 28-year-old has been one of the better power hitters and run producers at the catcher position in MLB this year. Dingler's strikeout rate is manageable at 22.9%, and he's posted solid barrel (10.0%) and hard-hit (42.7%) rates. However, Dingler's production has slowed down considerably in the second half of the season. After hitting just .173 across 113 plate appearances in August, Dingler has hit .203 with just one home run across his first 63 trips to the plate in September. Entering the final weekend of the regular season, fantasy managers may want to consider going away from Dingler.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josue Briceno Firmly Off Stash Radar with New Injury
Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Toledo with an undisclosed injury. He looked to have injured his ankle trying to get back to second base and subsequently had to leave the game this past Sunday, so it could be related to that. Regardless, it has all but guaranteed that the Tigers' fifth-ranked prospect will not debut in 2026. It has been a rough year anyway, with the left-handed hitter being limited to 42 total games due to injuries, only 15 of which came with the Mud Hens, where he hit .196 with zero home runs and a 32.2 percent strikeout rate. The 6-foot-4 slugger will hopefully be healthy to begin 2027 and could make a case for an MLB debut, but for now, the 21-year-old can be left on the waiver wire in redraft leagues.
Source: Emily Waldon
Source: Emily Waldon
Josue Briceno Not Likely To Debut in Majors Until Next Season
Detroit Tigers catcher prospect Josue Briceno has played for four minor league teams this season and has most recently logged 15 games at Triple-A Toledo. At Toledo, Briceno is hitting .196 with no homers and seven RBI as he has gotten off to a rough start. In 144 at-bats between the four levels, Briceno has combined to hit nine homers and 29 RBI with a .250 batting average. Briceno is the No. 5 prospect in the Tigers' system and has a 50-grade hit tool with 60-grade power. The power is elite for a catcher and makes Briceno an enticing fantasy prospect. But the Tigers have the productive duo of Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia at the catcher position. Look for Briceno to make his debut next season, and when he does, he will likely be a bit of a drag in the batting average category but carries big-time power potential.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Josue Briceno Off Stash Radar With Slow Start at Triple-A
Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno has yet to find his footing since being promoted to Triple-A Toledo, now 7-for-41 (.171) with zero home runs and a 31.3 percent strikeout rate through his first 12 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' fifth-ranked prospect had a delayed start to the 2026 campaign due to wrist surgery he underwent before the season got underway, but hit .297 with eight home runs in 17 games for Double-A Erie before earning the promotion to the minors' highest level. The 2024 Arizona Fall League MVP looks like a long shot to crack the majors in 2026, but with a patient approach (career walk rate of 12.8 percent), along with highly rated hit (50) and power tools (60), there is a good chance he'll have an impact in 2027.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Josue Briceno Likely Not Stash-Ready in Redraft Leagues
Detroit Tigers catching prospect Josue Briceno has been a lightning rod in the minor-league system and, at age 21, has run into some trouble with his latest promotion to Triple-A Toledo. In 11 games at Toledo, Briceno is 6-for-36 with no homers and four RBI. The talented catcher is likely not ready for big league at-bats this season and can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues. The Tigers are stocked well at catcher with Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia, so Briceno will likely not see the big leagues until at least next season. Briceno has been very good this season between four minor league levels with a .248 batting average and nine homers with 26 RBI in just 129 total at-bats. He is the No. 5 prospect for the Tigers with 60-grade power and a 50-grade hit tool. Fantasy managers will likely hear more about him in the future.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Josue Briceno Hoping There is One More Promotion For Him Coming Soon
Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno was promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on August 11 and is hoping he can play his way to a promotion to the Tigers big league club. Briceno is coming back from a right wrist injury that sidelined him for much of this season and has played for four different levels of the minors this season, combining to hit nine homers and 25 RBI in 104 at bats with 18 runs scored while hitting .279. In just three games with the Mud Hens, Briceno already has three RBI and is hitting 3-for-11. The left-handed hitter is the No. 5 prospect for the Tigers and is blessed with 60-grade power. At the big-league level, the Tigers are well stocked at the catcher position with Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia with Spencer Torkelson manning first base. It's looking like 2027 might be a more likely timeline for Briceno to join the Tigers.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Tigers Prospect Josue Briceno Promoted to Triple-A
The Detroit Tigers promoted catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno, MLB Pipeline's No. 54 overall prospect, to Triple-A Toledo this week, according to MLB Pipeline. Briceno is getting the call to the highest minor-league level after hitting a combined .280/.373/.591 with a .964 OPS, nine home runs, 22 RBI, and 17 runs scored in only 27 games (110 plate appearances) at the rookie-level Florida Complex League and with Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. The 21-year-old left-handed-hitting Venezuelan has 60-grade power and is considered the Tigers' No. 4 overall prospect behind outfielders Max Clark (already in the big leagues) and Zyhir Hope, and shortstop Bryce Rainer. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder is pretty athletic despite his size and position, and his strength from the left side of the plate is what makes him stand out as a catcher long-term for fantasy purposes. Briceno could stand to improve his plate discipline, but if he can do that early on next year at Toledo, he could force the Tigers' hand for an MLB promotion in 2027.
Source: MLB Pipeline
Source: MLB Pipeline
Eduardo Valencia Homers Twice in his Seventh Big-League Game
Detroit Tigers rookie catcher/first baseman Eduardo Valencia had a day to remember on Tuesday in the 14-0 win over the visiting Baltimore Orioles in just his seventh game in the majors. Valencia went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .529 and his OPS to 1.791 in a small sample size of seven big-league contests. It was his first game action with the Tigers since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Monday. Per MLB Pipeline, Valencia is considered Detroit's No. 11 overall prospect. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder also homered in his first major-league at-bat on July 9, and he now has four homers in his first seven games in Detroit. Valencia's effort to lower his hands in his batting stance to add more lift this year has certainly paid off, as he also clubbed 17 home runs in 81 games at Triple-A in 2026. The Tigers are rolling with Valencia as Dillon Dingler's backup for what looks like the rest of the year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dillon Dingler Continues Breakout Season With Two Homers Against Cubs
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler helped lead the Tigers to an 8-6 victory on Monday night at Wrigley Field over the Chicago Cubs by going 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season average to .268 and his OPS to .856. Both of the 27-year-old backstop's home runs on the night were of the solo variety. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of The Ohio State University has been a true breakout in 2026, slashing .268/.332/.524 with 21 home runs, 63 RBI, and 52 runs scored in 91 games across 379 plate appearances to earn All-Star honors for the first time in his second full season in the majors. Dingler's homers on Monday were his first since clearing the fences back on June 25. In 12 games and 50 plate appearances in July, Dingler is batting .289 (13-for-45) with an .849 OPS, two home runs, three doubles, four RBI, and seven runs scored for the Tigers. He has become a must-start in single-catcher leagues and is rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues in the midst of his breakout campaign.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Josue Briceno Rehabbing, is a 2026 Debut in Play?
Detroit Tigers catching/first baseman prospect Josue Briceno (wrist) continues to work his way back from wrist surgery that he had before the season began, and is 10 games into his rehab assignment that has thus far been split between Single-A and with the team's Complex League affiliate, going 7-for-29 (.241) with a pair of doubles, a home run, and a 5:6 BB:K. The Tigers' third-ranked prospect is coming off a promising 2025 campaign in which he impressed at High-A to the tune of a .296/.422/.602 slash line through 55 games, which included an 11-game stretch in which he blasted eight home runs, before earning a promotion to Double-A midseason. Though Double-A proved more challenging, he still hit .232 with a 12.6 percent walk rate as one of the younger players at that level. The 6-foot-4 Venezuelan possesses highly rated hit and power tools, and although a 2026 debut is unlikely, the 21-year-old is worth monitoring, and he could be making a fantasy impact in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Dillon Dingler Remains Out on Friday With Thumb Injury
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (thumb) is out of the starting lineup for the second straight game for Friday's series opener against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies due to a thumb injury, according to MLB.com. Jake Rogers will make another start behind the dish and catch right-hander Jack Flaherty while hitting ninth against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Dingler injured his thumb when he was hit by a foul tip on Wednesday, and he was removed from the contest early. He's day-to-day, though, and has a shot to return to the starting lineup in one of the last two games of the first half of the regular season on Saturday or Sunday in Detroit. The 27-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop is having a breakout 2026 campaign, slashing .264/.325/.516 with an .841 OPS, 19 home runs, 60 RBI, and 48 runs scored across his 318 at-bats in just his second full MLB season. Dingler ranks third among catchers in homers, is first in RBI, and is fifth in runs scored. UPDATE: Manager A.J. Hinch said it's uncertain if Dingler will play in either of the final two games of the first half of the season this weekend due to his thumb injury, per MLive.com's Evan Woodbery.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tigers Promote Catching Prospect Eduardo Valencia, Worth a Deep-League Pickup?
The Detroit Tigers recalled catching prospect Eduardo Valencia from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, with primary catcher Dillon Dingler injuring his thumb on Wednesday, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase. Valencia, 26, is considered the Tigers' No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline, and he will join the major-league squad for the first time after slashing .267/.353/.486 with an .840 OPS, 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 56 runs scored, and a stolen base in 76 games and 331 plate appearances this year with the Mud Hens. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has successfully added more lift to his swing this year, but he's still a work in progress as a defensive backstop. For the time being, he'll provide Detroit with some extra catching depth to close out the first half of the regular season with Dingler banged up. Dingler's thumb injury isn't considered very serious, though, so we doubt that Valencia will see much playing time before next week's All-Star break. For now, he's merely a catching prospect to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues for his power from the right side.
Source: ElExtraBase - Daniel Alvarez-Montes
Source: ElExtraBase - Daniel Alvarez-Montes
Dillon Dingler Out on Thursday, Considered Day-to-Day
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (thumb) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the visiting Athletics, but he said his hand feels "10 times better" than it did on Wednesday, according to Tigers reporter Logan Reever. The All-Star catcher will be day-to-day as the team waits for the swelling in his right thumb to go down. Detroit is encouraged about a quick return, possibly on Friday for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jake Rogers will do the catching for left-hander Framber Valdez in the series finale against the A's on Thursday and will hit eighth against left-hander Jose Suarez. Dingler departed Wednesday's game early after a foul tip hit his thumb, but thankfully, X-rays came back clean, and he could play again this weekend before next week's All-Star break. The 27-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop is rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues thanks to a breakout 2026 campaign. Dingler came into Thursday with a .264/.325/.516 slash line, .841 OPS, 19 home runs, 60 RBI, and 48 runs scored across 318 at-bats in his second full season in the majors.
Source: Logan Reever
Source: Logan Reever
Dillon Dingler Pulled With Thumb Injury
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (thumb) left Wednesday's game against the Athletics early. Dingler took a foul tip off his right thumb during the first inning of this contest. The Tigers decided to play it safe and pull Dingler out of the game for precautionary reasons. The expectation is that Dingler is headed for X-rays so that the team can rule out any significant injuries. The 27-year-old was named to the American League All-Star team recently, so hopefully he'll be ready to go for that. Jake Rogers took over behind the plate and figures to see a bulk of the time behind the plate while Dingler is down. UPDATE: X-rays on Dingler's right hand came back negative, per The Detroit News' Chris McCosky.
Source: Jason Beck
Source: Jason Beck
