Rangers outfield prospect plays like first-rounder in Frisco

The transition from High A High Desert to Double A Frisco isn’t always easy, but center fielder Lewis Brinson is making it look that way.

He hasn’t slowed down, either. In his first 14 games with Frisco he’s only been held hitless twice, in his debut and on Saturday, when he went 0 for 4.

“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve just been trying to carry over what I left in High Desert and just keep it going, just keep the same mentality, the same routine I had down there,” said Brinson, who turned 21 in May.

He hit .337 with 42 extra-base hits (including 13 homers) in 64 games with High Desert to earn the promotion. After moving from Low A to High A in 2014, Brinson struggled at the plate, hitting .246 in 46 games with Myrtle Beach. The experienced and maturity showed in 2015, however, as his OPS jumped nearly 400 points to 1.021 with High Desert.

“I think it was a little bit of both [experience and maturity],” he said. “This is my fourth year in pro ball, seeing different pitchers and different teams and what they’re trying to do and how they’re trying to pitch me. I think it’s experience more than anything.”

He’s also learned to be a little bit more patient at the plate. He’s brought that to Frisco where he’s played errorless defense in the outfield, including 12 starts in center and one each in left and right.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself moving up to Double A even though it’s almost just a step away from the big leagues,” he said. “You try not to think about that and not put too much pressure on yourself and not give these pitchers too much credit.”

He had to deal with a hamstring issue that kept him out of the lineup for all of May. It’s the second consecutive season he’s missed time with an injury, which was its own adjustment, learning to cope.

“It’s unfortunate but it’s part of the game. I got through it and got back and put my nose to the grindstone and just kept pushing and just tried to stay focused on things I could control,” he said. “I think that’s probably been the key to my success this year.”

Clutch Sanchez

Short A Spokane catcher Tyler Sanchez came through in the clutch twice Friday night.

He tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth and then gave the Indians a 5-3 walk-off win with a two-run homer in the 11th.

Sanchez, a 17th-round pick out of St. John’s in June, finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs. He’s hitting .240 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 28 games.

Tate a Crawdad

Right-hander Dillon Tate, the Rangers’ first-round pick and No. 4 overall in June, pitched for Low A Hickory on Saturday night.

He pitched one inning, striking out one.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Rangers outfield prospect plays like first-rounder in Frisco."