Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Lewis Brinson Born: 05/08/1994 (Age: 21)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 5"	Weight: 212
	Primary Position: CF

Elite athlete; high waist, long legs, lean muscle on limbs; supreme coordination, graceful movements, elite vertical leap; looks to be a few (good) pounds north of listed 170; chest and shoulders can add a few more pounds of muscle mass.

Evaluator	Wilson Karaman
Report Date	07/12/2015
Dates Seen	6/16, 6/17, 7/1, 7/12
Affiliate	High Desert Mavericks (High A, Rangers)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2017	Moderate/H	60	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	40	Upright, even stance, high hands with modest wrap, strong forearms and wrists; minimal load, minor hitch with hands moving up as weight shifts, inconsistent launch point; can take steep angles into the zone, below-average barrel control; hands stay back consistently, generates separation; modest leg kick; plus bat speed with mild leverage, line drive stroke but will sell out and look to lift and drive in fastball counts; below-average track and recognition, loses his balance to the front side, vulnerable to soft stuff; lacks two-strike approach.
Power	50	Raw pushes 60; plus bat speed, mild leverage, produces line drives with carry to the gaps and straight away; will sell out to the pull side in fastball counts, poor barrel control compromises power utility when he does.
Baserunning/Speed	65	4.12 from the right side; well above-average start-up, gets to top speed quickly; graceful runner, glides through the outfield; usable speed plays down at present on the bases; inconsistent crossover on stolen base breaks, raw reads off pitchers and contact.
Glove	70	Outstanding track and close defender; instinctual reads off the bat, conviction in his first step, advanced anticipation; plus routes with ability to discern trajectory; long strides, double-plus closing speed; will drift on balls over his head.
Arm	60	Plus arm strength, easy carry; low-effort throwing motion; inconsistent footwork can compromise accuracy, but correctable.

Brinson oozes athleticism and elite physicality, featuring four plus-or-better raw tools in one of the most tantalizing packages I've seen. While there are some minor rough edges remaining in his defensive game he projects as an impact defender in centerfield. He's a borderline double-plus runner, though some of the utility is untapped on the bases on account of raw base-stealing technique and inconsistency in picking up his coaches. These are all issues that can be cleaned up with repetition and coaching.

The development of his hit tool will determine the overall impact potential. The Rangers have overhauled his load to where he's keeping his hands higher and significantly quieter now, and while he's made notable progress in toning down swing-and-miss the transition remains a work in progress. When the arms and lower half stay in synch he'll generate significant torque and drive the bat through the zone with plus bat speed and extension after contact. But he frequently gets his weight to the front side too quickly, losing fluidity in his top half and leaving the barrel delivery inconsistent.

The defensive projection and speed set a high floor of producing above-average value at the Major League level, and there's enough raw offensive skill to suggest potential development into a first-division centerfielder.