Texas Rangers in 2016 The
Texas Rangers selected Brinson in the first round of the
2012 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Rangers, receiving a $1.625 million
signing bonus, 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. 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. 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. 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. Brinson was invited to spring training by the Rangers in 2016. He began the season in Frisco.
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. The Brewers assigned Brinson to the
Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL. He finished the 2016 season with a .268 batting average, 15 homers and 61 RBI. The Brewers added him to their
40-man roster after the season, in order to protect him from the
Rule 5 draft. Brinson began the 2017 season with Colorado Springs. The Brewers promoted him to the major leagues on June 10. 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.
MLB.com ranked Brinson as Miami's top prospect going into the 2018 season. On March 25, 2018, the Marlins announced that Brinson had made the Opening Day roster. 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. 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. 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. The Marlins
designated Brinson for assignment after the 2021 season. He was non-tendered on November 30, making him a
free agent.
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. He was selected to the Giants' major league roster the same day. 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. Brinson elected free agency following the season on October 6.
Yomiuri Giants On January 12, 2023, Brinson signed with the
Yomiuri Giants of
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). 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.
Olmecas de Tabasco On April 30, 2024, Brinson signed with the
Olmecas de Tabasco of the
Mexican League. 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. 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. ==References==