Brinson enters show
Prospect wants to prove hype about him is real
PHOENIX – It often is said that what goes around, comes around.
For Lewis Brinson, that proved to be true in an unexpected way.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 1 prospect was called up from Class AAA Colorado Springs on Saturday and made his major-league debut Sunday in an 11-1 loss to Arizona. But it wasn’t his first visit to Chase Field this season.
The Sky Sox were still in spring training here on April 2 when the Diamondbacks opened their season against the San Francisco Giants. Brinson and teammate Brett Phillips, who was called up earlier last week, had some spare time and decided to attend the game.
“(Brinson’s) agent got us tickets,” Phillips said. “We had great seats. We got to see Bumgarner hit two homers.”
Indeed, Giants pitcher Madison Bumgar-
ner hit two home runs that day, but the Diamondbacks rallied late to pull off a 6-5 victory. Phillips and Brinson departed a couple of days later to open their season in Colorado Springs.
There was no way for Phillips and Brinson to know they would reunite more than two months later at Chase Field.
“It’s crazy how stuff works out,” said Brinson, who batted leadoff and played left field in his first game in the majors.
Brinson, 23, was installed as the Brewers’ No. 1 prospect immediately after being acquired Aug. 1 as one of three players in the trade that sent catcher Jonathan Lucroy and reliever Jeremy Jeffress to Texas. Ryan Cordid,”
dell, also acquired in that deal, Brinson and Phillips were assigned in the spring to Colorado Springs to form the starting outfield.
On the day Brinson was summoned by the Brewers, Cordell went 6 for 9 in a doubleheader against Iowa with two home runs, a triple, double and five RBI.
“He’ll be up here soon, I don’t doubt that,” Brinson said. “He’s as ready as we are. I can’t wait for him to get up here, too.”
The 29th overall pick in the 2012 draft by Texas, Brinson has an athletic frame (6 foot 5, 206 pounds) that gives him both pop and speed. He has shown improved pitch recognition, resulting in a .397 on-base percentage in 45 games with Colorado Springs to go with a .312 batting average, 13 doubles, six home runs, 25 RBI and seven stolen bases.
“I really liked the way I was playing,” said Brinson, who does not lack for confidence. “I was being consistent, taking my walks, playing good defense, trying to stay healthy.”
Brinson batted primarily in the leadoff spot with Colorado Springs and manager Craig Counsell decided to keep him there in his debut.
“He’s a good hitter, and you put your good hitters toward the top of the lineup,” Counsell said. “He’s capable of providing offense in a number of different ways. He’s a plus runner; he has the ability to hit a home run. There’s a lot of different things he provides offensively.”
Facing red-hot lefty Robbie Ray, Brinson was robbed in his first at-bat by shortstop Nick Ahmed, who made a diving stab to his left and threw to first.
“That first at-bat, I just wanted to hit something hard, and I Brinson said. “That’s what happens up here. Guys catch those up here. I could kind of relax after that.”
Brinson walked next time up, then struck out on a nasty curveball from Ray with a runner on third and one down in the fifth before walking again in his final at-bat against reliever J.J. Hoover to load the bases with two down in the seventh.
“I was happy with my at-bats except for the strikeout,” he said. “Obviously, we didn’t come out with the win, which is the most important thing. I didn’t have as many butterflies as I thought I would.”
Asked if he felt ready to play in the majors, Brinson didn’t hesitate with his answer.
“I’m nothing but ready,” he said. “I’m just going to go out and play. My play will speak for itself and hopefully I can stick up here.”