Lewis Brinson

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Lewis Brinson

|image = Lewis Brinson 8.11.21.jpg

|caption = Brinson with the Marlins in 2021

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|5|8}}

|birth_place = Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 11

|debutyear = 2017

|debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers

|debut2league= NPB

|debut2date = March 31

|debut2year = 2023

|debut2team = Yomiuri Giants

|statyear = 2022 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .198

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 28

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 109

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat2league = NPB

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .248

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 11

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 35

|teams =

Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2017}})
Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2021}})
San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2022}})
Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2023}})

}}

Lewis Lamont Brinson (born May 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants. The Texas Rangers selected Brinson in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

Early life

Lewis Brinson grew up in South Florida. As a child, he aspired to play baseball for the Florida Marlins.{{cite news|last1=Wine|first1=Steven|title=After trade from Brewers, Marlins fan Lewis Brinson says he likes direction of franchise|url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/baseball/professional/after-trade-from-brewers-marlins-fan-lewis-brinson-says-he/article_145e85fe-a1cd-51e5-b1da-73506bfea0a1.html|access-date=January 26, 2018|work=Wisconsin State Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=January 26, 2018|language=en}} Brinson attended Coral Springs High School in Coral Springs, Florida.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-04-24/sports/fl-baseball-challenge-springs-0424-20120424_1_lewis-brinson-alan-sharkey-frank-bumbales|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203071754/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-04-24/sports/fl-baseball-challenge-springs-0424-20120424_1_lewis-brinson-alan-sharkey-frank-bumbales|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2016|title=Coral Springs' Lewis Brinson hoping to deliver Colts first state baseball title|work=Sun-Sentinel|date=April 24, 2012|access-date=January 27, 2016}} In the summer before his senior year, he won a home run derby for prospects at Wrigley Field. He initially committed to play college baseball for the Florida Gators of the University of Florida.{{cite news|last1=Fraley|first1=Gerry|title=Rangers select outfielder Lewis Brinson with No. 29 pick in MLB draft|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangersheadlines/2012/06/04/rangers-select-outfielder-lewis-brinson-with-no.-29-pick-in-mlb-draft|access-date=January 26, 2018|work=Dallas Morning News|date=June 4, 2012|language=en}}

Career

=Texas Rangers=

File:Lewis Brinson Frisco RoughRiders May 2016.jpg in 2016]]

The Texas Rangers selected Brinson in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/article3831617.html|title=Rangers take the high (school) road in MLB draft|work=star-telegram|access-date=January 27, 2016}} He signed with the Rangers, receiving a $1.625 million signing bonus,{{cite web|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2016/01/13/rangers-top-prospects-2-lewis-brinson-center-fielder-plus-power-continues-improve |title=Texas Rangers: Rangers Top Prospects, No. 2: Lewis Brinson, center fielder with plus power that continues to improve | SportsDay |date=January 14, 2016 |publisher=Sportsday.dallasnews.com |access-date=June 11, 2017}} and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Rangers, hitting .283/.345/.523 with seven home runs over 237 at-bats in 54 games.{{cite web|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangersheadlines/2013/01/23/rangers-prospect-primer-speedy-of-lewis-brinson-has-upside-like-b.j.-upton|title=Texas Rangers: Rangers prospect primer: Speedy OF Lewis Brinson has upside like B.J. Upton - SportsDay|work=SportsDay|access-date=January 27, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125165400/http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangersheadlines/2013/01/23/rangers-prospect-primer-speedy-of-lewis-brinson-has-upside-like-b.j.-upton|archive-date=January 25, 2016}}

Brinson spent 2013 with the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, hitting .237/.322/.427 with 21 home runs. He started 2014 with Hickory before being promoted to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.{{cite web|url=http://www.observernewsonline.com/content/%E2%80%98dads-first-rounder-brinson-living-expectations|title='Dads first-rounder Brinson living up to expectations|access-date=January 27, 2016}} In 347 at-bats over 89 games, he hit .288/.354/.458 with 13 home runs. Brinson started 2015 with the High Desert Mavericks of the High–A California League and was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League and Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL) during the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-137982982|title=California League notebook: Texas Rangers' Lewis Brinson brings all the tools to High Desert Mavericks - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=January 27, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article31220732.html|title=Rangers outfield prospect plays like first-rounder in Frisco|work=star-telegram|access-date=January 27, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2016/01/13/rangers-top-prospects-2-lewis-brinson-center-fielder-plus-power-continues-improve|title=Texas Rangers: Rangers Top Prospects, No. 2: Lewis Brinson, center fielder with plus power that continues to improve - SportsDay|work=SportsDay| date=January 14, 2016 |access-date=January 27, 2016}} In 100 games over the three levels, he hit .332/.403/.601 with 20 home runs. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-lewis-brinson-grew-in-fall-league/c-156463170|title=Rangers' Lewis Brinson grew in Fall League|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=January 27, 2016}} Brinson was invited to spring training by the Rangers in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2016/01/18/top-level-prospect-brinson-receive-minor-league-exposure-spring|title=Texas Rangers: Top-level Rangers prospect Brinson to receive exposure with big club in spring - SportsDay|work=SportsDay| date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=January 27, 2016}} He began the season in Frisco.{{cite web|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2016/04/05/top-rangers-prospect-lewis-brinson-adusting-life-dallas-get-behind-one-local-team |title=Texas Rangers: Top Rangers prospect Lewis Brinson is adusting to life in Dallas but can't get behind one local team | SportsDay |date=April 6, 2016 |publisher=Sportsday.dallasnews.com |access-date=June 11, 2017}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On August 1, 2016, the Rangers traded Brinson, Luis Ortiz, and a player to be named later, Ryan Cordell to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17194805/jonathan-lucroy-acquired-texas-rangers-milwaukee-brewers |title=Jonathan Lucroy acquired by Texas Rangers from Milwaukee Brewers |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=August 2, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2017}} The Brewers assigned Brinson to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL.{{Cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-193289770 | title=The Official Site of Minor League Baseball }} He finished the 2016 season with a .268 batting average, 15 homers and 61 RBI's.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/lewis-brinson-621446 |title=Lewis Brinson Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=June 11, 2017}} The Brewers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.{{cite web|last=McCalvy |first=Adam |url=http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/209166820/brewers-brinson-hader-added-to-40-man-roster/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119062448/http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/209166820/brewers-brinson-hader-added-to-40-man-roster/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |title=Brewers' Brinson, Hader added to 40-man roster |publisher=M.brewers.mlb.com |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2017}}

Brinson began the 2017 season with Colorado Springs. The Brewers promoted him to the major leagues on June 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/milwaukee-brewers-call-up-top-prospect-lewis-brinson/c-235623802/t-185364810 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611060257/https://www.milb.com/milb/news/milwaukee-brewers-call-up-top-prospect-lewis-brinson/c-235623802/t-185364810 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |title=Brewers call up top prospect Brinson |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=June 11, 2017}} In 21 games, Brinson hit two home runs and batted .106. In 2017 in the PCL he batted .331/.400/.562.

=Miami Marlins=

On January 25, 2018, the Brewers traded Brinson, Isan Díaz, Monte Harrison, and Jordan Yamamoto to the Miami Marlins for Christian Yelich.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22214491/miami-marlins-trade-outfielder-christian-yelich-milwaukee-brewers|title=Brewers acquire OF Christian Yelich from rebuilding Marlins|work=ESPN.com|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018}} MLB.com ranked Brinson as Miami's top prospect going into the 2018 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brinson-leads-marlins-new-top-30/c-266748616?tid=151437456|title=Brinson leads Marlins' revamped Top 30|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 22, 2018}} On March 25, 2018, the Marlins announced that Brinson had made the Opening Day roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-lewis-brinson-makes-marlins-roster/c-269633312|title=Brinson makes Marlins' Opening Day roster|work=MLB.com|access-date=March 25, 2018}} In 382 at bats with Miami he hit .199/.240/.338.

He was demoted to Triple–A on April 30, 2019, and promoted back to the major leagues on August 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article233515972.html|title=Miami Marlins giving Isan Diaz first MLB opportunity, Lewis Brinson chance for redemption|first=Jordan|last=McPherson|work=Miami Herald|date=August 5, 2019|access-date=August 5, 2019}} In 2019 in the PCL he batted .270/.361/.510.

During the pandemic-shortened 2020 MLB season, Brinson hit over .200 for the first time in his major league career, hitting .226/.268/.368 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 47 games. Brinson additionally made his first appearance in the postseason, where he was hitless in six at-bats.

Brinson again made the Marlins' Opening Day roster in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://thegamehaus.com/mlb/miami-marlins-2021-opening-day-roster/2021/04/01/|title=Miami Marlins 2021 Opening Day Roster|first=Ben|last=Hendricks|work=The Game Haus|date=April 1, 2021|access-date=June 20, 2021}} In August 2021, Brinson claimed to have been called "nigger" by a fan at Coors Field. A subsequent investigation by MLB found that the fan was trying to get the attention of the Rockies' mascot, "Dinger", for his grandchildren.{{Cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31993131/colorado-rockies-say-fan-shouted-mascot-dinger-use-racial-slur | title=Rockies: Fan shouted at mascot, didn't use slur | date=August 9, 2021 }} The Marlins designated Brinson for assignment after the 2021 season. He was non-tendered on November 30, making him a free agent.{{cite web|last1=Castrovince|first1=Anthony|title=List of Non-Tendered Free Agents By Team|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/non-tendered-players-2021-22|website=MLB.com|publisher=|date=December 1, 2021|access-date=December 1, 2021}}

=Houston Astros=

On March 12, 2022, Brinson signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. Over 85 games, he batted .299/356/.574 with 22 home runs for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Pacific Coast League.

=San Francisco Giants=

On September 1, 2022, the Astros traded Brinson to the San Francisco Giants for an undisclosed return.{{cite news | last=Dierberger | first=Tom | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-trade-astros-outfielder-lewis-brinson-former-top-mlb-prospect | title=Giants acquire former top prospect Brinson from Astros | website=NBCSports |date=September 1, 2022 |access-date=September 14, 2022}} He was selected to the Giants' major league roster the same day.{{Cite web|title=Giants' Lewis Brinson: Traded to Giants|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-lewis-brinson-traded-to-giants/|access-date=June 16, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 2022 |language=en}} On September 21, Brinson was designated for assignment after batting .167/.211/.472 in 16 games with the Giants. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats on September 24.{{Cite web|title=SF Giants recall versatile C/INF Ford Proctor from Triple-A, place OF Luis González on IL|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-recall-ford-proctor-injured-luis-gonzalez|access-date=June 21, 2023|website=si.com|date=September 24, 2022 |language=en}} Brinson elected free agency following the season on October 6.{{Cite web|title=34 Players Become Free Agents|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/brett-phillips-willians-astudillo-michael-chavis-free-agents-minor-league.html|access-date=June 22, 2023|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=October 7, 2022 |language=en}}

=Yomiuri Giants=

On January 12, 2023, Brinson signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).{{Cite web|title=Miami Marlins bust Lewis Brinson heading to Japan|url=https://calltothepen.com/2023/01/12/miami-marlins-bust-lewis-brinson-heading-japan/|access-date=January 14, 2023|website=calltothepen.com|date=January 12, 2023 |language=en}} In 88 games for Yomiuri, he batted .248/.272/.422 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI. On November 27, the Giants announced that Brinson would not be returning to the team the following year.{{Cite web|title=Giant Griffin, Mendes, Baldonado will remain next season. Beady, Lopez and Brinson are leaving|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fdaa94161b027110be0daa7f6f8ae8aceee7f517|access-date=December 5, 2023|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|language=en}}

=Olmecas de Tabasco=

On April 30, 2024, Brinson signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=Jardinero Lewis Brinson, nuevo pelotero de Olmecas de Tabasco|url=https://www.xevt.com/deportes/jardinero-lewis-brinson-nuevo-pelotero-de-olmecas-de-tabasco/318836|access-date=May 27, 2024|website=xevt.com|language=en}} In 13 games, he batted .143/.250/.238 with three hits and four RBI.

=Rieleros de Aguascalientes=

On May 26, 2024, Brinson was traded to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.{{Cite tweet|user=OlmecasTabasco|number=1794861238100668671|title=Gracias por su trabajo en la organización. Les deseamos que el camino del beisbol siga siendo exitoso para ustedes. Gracias A.J Griffin, gracias Lewis Brinson 👏🏼 #SomosOlmecas👊🏽⚾️|date=May 26, 2024|language=ES|access-date=May 27, 2024}}{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 29 de mayo de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-29-de-mayo-de-2024|access-date=May 30, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} In 3 games for Aguascalientes, he went 1–for–7 (.143) before being placed on the reserve list on June 7, where he spent the rest of the season. Brinson became a free agent following the season.