Craig Davis: Brinson makes case for Marlins leadoff spot.
JUPITER — Lewis
Brinson is an example that it isn’t where you start out that counts, it’s where you end up.
Brinson batted ninth in his freshman season at Coral Springs High when, by his description, he was “lanky, kind of awkward and didn’t really know myself yet.”
Now the Marlins’ toprated prospect and prize acquisition in the trade that sent Christian
Yelich to Milwaukee is one of several players being considered for the leadoff spot in the batting order.
If so, he could follow the track of Yelich and 2006 Rookie of the Year
Hanley Ramirez, both of whom initially batted in the No. 1 spot before becoming mainstays in the middle of the lineup.
“Wherever they want me in the lineup, whether it’s leadoff or ninth, I don’t care. If I am in the starting lineup, I’m good,” Brinson said.
“I just try to be the same guy wherever I’m hitting.” Marlins manager Don
Mattingly hasn’t said for sure that Brinson is on the team.
But it would be a shock if he isn’t in the starting lineup on March 29 against the Chicago Cubs.
He is hitting .341 with six doubles and a home run through 18 Grapefruit League games.
Now a chiseled 6 feet 3 and 195 pounds, Brinson projects as a power threat who will be counted on to drive in runs as he matures as a hitter.
But on a team without a classic leadoff-type hitter, he can offer some attributes that fit there with speed and ability to get on base.
“He’s a guy that we think is going to steal bags. Not that he’s a 50 [steals] guy, but he’s a 20-to-30 guy, and at some point he’s going to hit some homers too,” Mattingly said.
“He’s a guy that’s made adjustments, gotten on base.”
Unlike the past three seasons when speedy
Dee Gordon was a fixture atop the order, Mattingly said he expects to utilize a revolving cast there this season.
Derek Dietrich, J.T.
Realmuto and Cameron Maybin are others who have batted first and could get opportunities there. Shortstop Miguel
Rojas batted leadoff in Monday’s exhibition against the Nationals and had two hits, including a triple, and scored twice.
“You’d like to get a lineup that you can put together, but I don’t necessary see our club being a set lineup,” Mattingly said.
“It’s not our personnel right now.”
Magneuris Sierra ,a speedster acquired from St. Louis in the Marcell
Ozuna trade, would be a natural to lead off when he is ready to play regularly.
He has been sidelined the past week with hamstring tightness.
Braxton Lee, competing for a reserve outfield role, also fits the mold of the scrappy leadoff man that distinguished former Marlins star Juan Pierre.
Although Brinson admired Pierre and wears his number 9, “I’m not that guy,” he said.
But with Pierre in camp as a spring instructor, Brinson has been able to get some helpful tips from the career .295 hitter who stole 614 bases.
“We’ve worked on bunting, we’ve worked on getting on base, how to steal bags and what to look for in pitchers,” said Brinson, whose majorleague debut was as the leadoff hitter for the Brewers on June 11.
Mattingly hasn’t shied away from taking a nontraditional approach to the batting order.
He has had position players bat ninth, and last year had Giancarlo Stanton in the No. 2 hole for most the season on the way to 59 home runs.
While speed is desirable in a leadoff man, the ability to get on base is a prerequisite.
Brinson has a .375 on-base percentage this spring, though he has only walked twice.
“It’s important. You get on base, you’ve got a better chance of scoring runs,” Brinson said. “A guy like me, I know that I’m in scoring position at first base.”
Realmuto targets opener
Catcher Realmuto started throwing Monday for the first time since bruising his lower back while getting picked off second base eight days earlier.
Recovery has been slower than expected, but Realmuto said, “I’ll be ready for Opening Day. Very confident.”
He intends to make up for lost at-bats by playing in minor-league games this week.