The Detroit Tigers are one of a few teams with a spring training facility in Florida playing games in the Bridge League, basically an extended version of the Florida Complex League.

It's a 20-game season.

Josue Briceño, a 19-year-old catcher who projects to end up at first base because of below-average defense behind the plate, is playing in Bridge League games this week, returning from a right posterior cruciate ligament sprain.

He injured his right knee while running the bases May 5 and hasn't played in a game since May 12.

BIG QUESTION: Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle is going to hit, but will he stay at shortstop?

Briceño, a left-handed hitter, is one of the best pure hitters in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Before the injury, he hit .306 with two home runs, 15 walks and 17 strikeouts across 28 games in Low-A Lakeland, making contact more than 93% of the time when swinging at pitches inside the strike zone.

The Tigers signed Briceño out of Venezuela in January 2022. He ranks as the Tigers' No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He is joined on the top-30 list by fellow catchers Thayron Liranzo (No. 6), Dillon Dingler (No. 9) and Enrique Jimenez (No. 17).

The FCL season ended in late July, leading to the Bridge League for players to continue competing in games.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

Will Matt Manning return in 2024?

Right-hander Matt Manning has pitched in Triple-A Toledo for most of the 2024 season.

He is recovering from a right lat strain that he reported to the Tigers over the All-Star break. The 26-year-old is completing a throwing program three times per week. He is limited to flat-ground throwing, so he hasn't thrown off a mound yet, but the Tigers hope he will pitch in games again in 2024.

The Mud Hens' season ends Sept. 22.

NEWCOMERS: Breaking down 'haul of young talent' acquired by Tigers at 2024 trade deadline

Manning has a 4.88 ERA with 12 walks and 23 strikeouts across 27⅔ innings in five starts with the Tigers. He has a 4.53 ERA with 22 walks and 60 strikeouts across 59⅔ innings in 12 games (11 starts) with the Mud Hens.

He owns a 24.8% whiff rate and a 24% strikeout rate with the Mud Hens, which isn't significantly better than his 23.6% whiff rate and 18.7% strikeout rate with the Tigers.

Manning hasn't pitched in a game since July 14, and he hasn't pitched for the Tigers since May 19. Health and performance will dictate if he gets another opportunity with the Tigers.

Wilmer Flores update

Triple-A Toledo right-hander Wilmer Flores, a member of the Tigers' 40-man roster, is throwing live batting practice sessions two times per week in his return from a right shoulder stress reaction.

The 23-year-old seems on track to return to the Mud Hens before their season finale. Flores hasn't pitched in a game since May 12, which is when he injured his shoulder.

Before the injury, Flores posted a 6.04 ERA with 19 walks and 19 strikeouts across 22⅓ innings in 13 relief appearances.

ON THE MOVE: A trade for an interpreter? Hao-Yu Lee came to Tigers in a package deal

The Tigers were counting on Flores to contribute in the big leagues after an impressive spring training, but as a result of the soon-to-be 100-day absence, he won't make his MLB debut until 2025.

Three new surgeries in minor leagues

• Right-handed reliever Donye Evans, a 16th-round draft pick in 2023, is scheduled for right elbow surgery next week to repair his ulnar collateral ligament. The 22-year-old registered a 1.40 ERA with eight walks and 21 strikeouts across 19⅓ innings in 17 relief appearances with Low-A Lakeland. He injured his elbow in his Sept. 25 outing, requiring Tommy John surgery.

• Right-handed reliever Aaron Haase, who has right thoracic outlet syndrome, will undergo surgery next week. The 24-year-old hasn't pitched in an official game at all in the 2024 season. The Tigers drafted him in the 17th round in 2021.

• First baseman Jake Holton suffered a right ulnar fracture Aug. 7 in a game with Double-A Erie and underwent surgery. The 26-year-old hit .279 with 14 home runs, 44 walks and 91 strikeouts across 96 games in 2024, all with the SeaWolves.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers injury report update: Matt Manning throwing again