Get to Know: Q&A with Brewers outfielder Lewis Brinson

The Journal Sentinel’s Todd Rosiak caught up with Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lewis Brinson following the team’s 2-1 Father’s Day victory to discuss his recent call-up from the minor leagues, who’s been mentoring him since his arrival and his goals. Brinson, 23, was the organization’s No. 1 prospect and is hitting .143 in 21 at-bats with the Brewers since being recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs on June 10. He was acquired in a trade-deadline deal Aug. 1 from the Texas Rangers along with pitcher Luis Ortiz and outfielder Ryan Cordell in exchange for catcher Jonathan Lucroy and closer Jeremy Jeffress.

Q. Today is Father’s Day, and I read that your father, Lewis Brinson Jr., passed away when you were a youngster. As Lewis Brinson III, will you share any memories, and was playing today special for you with that in mind?

A. I was 10 years old. It was liver cancer. I saw my name in the starting lineup and it was awesome. I was very happy to see that, that I was playing on Father’s Day. I got a hit for him, we got the win for him, so it’s very special. Being in the big leagues, playing on Father’s Day, you couldn’t write it up better. I dedicated this day to him and to my mom (Susie), because she was mom and dad growing up. Every day I go out there, it’s for both of them. I know he’s proud of me and he’s looking down and is just crazy proud of me right now and everything that I’ve accomplished and everything my mom's done to keep me grounded and get me to this point. I wouldn’t be here without her.

Q. Every player remembers his first call-up to the major leagues. How did your experience go?

A. It was pretty basic. I was at home. I wasn’t at the field yet. (Colorado Springs manager Rick Sweet) called me and told me pack my bags, I was going to the big leagues. I asked him if he was kidding at first and he’s like, ‘Son, I don’t joke about stuff like this.’ Obviously he wasn’t joking around, and here I am. It was pretty basic, but it was exactly what I dreamed of.

Q. So you hang up from talking to Sweet. What do you do next?

A. I actually took 10-15 seconds to myself, soaked it in for a little bit, then I called my mom and told her. We had a moment. Then I called my girlfriend, my hitting coach back home, my uncles, a couple lifelong friends. Just people that have been really, really close to me, and let them know I had been called up to the big leagues.

Q. How did your mom react?

A. Just straight-up screams. Then she was real confident and was like, ‘This is what you worked for all your life. All the sacrifices you made, this is all what it comes down to. I knew it would pay off.’ It was the happiest moment for both of us.

Q. So you pack your bags and head off to Chase Field in Phoenix, where the Brewers are playing the Diamondbacks, and arrive as the game is going on. A pretty hectic day for you?

A. The travel was great. No delays or anything. I got there, got picked up, drove to the field, was active that night and got dressed as fast as I could and headed to the dugout. I walked out to 40,000 people at Chase Field, so that was pretty crazy. Obviously everybody saw me, welcomed me. I tried to get to Craig (Counsell) as fast I could to thank him for the opportunity. It was was real simple, but cool.

Q. You’ve been up for over a week now. Do you feel like you’ve got your feet under you now?

A. Yeah, I think so. It takes you a couple days to make some adjustments and get a routine up here. Kind of get yourself acclimated to being up here. It’s the same game, obviously, but it’s a little bit different as far as routines and trying to find stuff that works for you up here. New atmosphere, new teammates, but I think I’ve got my feet under me. I’m getting acclimated to the game and making the right adjustments, and I’m excited to see what the rest of the time I’m up here holds for me.

Q. The old saying for the young guys is, ‘Eyes open, mouth shut.’ Is that the approach you’ve taken so far?

A. Yeah, definitely. These guys have been up here all year and I’m just getting here. I’m here to contribute to winning. I’m a rookie, I’m a new guy, so I’m just going to go about my business and let these guys handle theirs, and on the field we’ll play as a team. I know these guys will have faith in me that I can do the job that I was brought up here to do, and I’m excited to get to it.

Q. Have youleaned on any veterans in particular to this point?

A. Everybody’s given me their bits and pieces. Telling me it’s the same game, trying not to do too much. Obviously (Ryan Braun) has helped me in spring training and here, just explaining his experiences with his world in the big leagues and when he got drafted and first got up here and how to make the right adjustments. I’m just taking from everybody and just picking everyone’s brains. It’s been good.

Q. What were your first impressions of Miller Park when you walked in for the first time?

A. It looks exactly the same on TV (laughs). I wasn’t really expecting to be blown away. I expected to see another big-league park. Luckily I played in Arizona and St. Louis first. But coming here in front of the home fans, there were definitely some butterflies. It was definitely kind of my debut again, so to speak. But it was fun, coming out here first game and I’m starting, my mom’s in the stands, everybody’s in the stands and giving me a nice ovation my first at-bat and welcoming me with open arms. So I was happy.

Q. You picked up your first career hit in St. Louis. Where did that ball wind up?

A. That went straight to my mom. She’s got it on the plane. Hopefully she doesn’t lose it (laughs). She’s hanging onto that.

Q. You were a first-round pick of the Rangers in 2012, 29th overall. The Brewers had the 27th and 28th picks and went with Clint Coulter and Victor Roache, respectively. Coulter is still at the Class AA level and Roache was traded. Do you know either of thoseguys, and isn’t it weird how you eventually wound up in Milwaukee?

A. Now, looking back at it, Milwaukee had the picks before and I actually thought I was getting drafted my Milwaukee. My agent told me that it was either Milwaukee or Texas. Obviously Milwaukee picked who they picked and Texas picked me, and I couldn’t be more thankful or more blessed that the Texas Rangers gave me the opportunity. Then coming over here last year, it all came around full-circle with that draft. I didn’t know Roache but I knew Coulter – I played with him in the Under Armour All-American Game in high school.

Q. You were drafted out of high school as an 18-year-old. Did you think it would take you five years to reach the major leagues?

A. I mean, when I first got drafted, I got to rookie ball and all the guys that I got drafted with thought we were going to be in Double-A the next year (laughs). We obviously didn’t know the ropes and know the process of what it takes to climb the ladder and get to the big leagues. We all thought, ‘Can’t wait to go to Double-A next year. It’s going to be awesome. And then the big leagues the next year.’ But it’s a process and you’ve got to learn things. I wasn’t the most polished guy coming out of high school. It’s a work in progress. A lot of hard work, a lot of video, a lot of time in the cage, a lot of working on your game that you have to do to make it to this level. Everybody in here is talented at what they do and they didn’t get here by accident. It definitely took me a little bit, and I’m glad I’m here now.

Q. Brett Phillips was the first prospect from Colorado Springs to get called up. I’m sure you were happy forhim, but was there a part of you wondering why you didn’t get the call since you were the top prospect?

A. No. That was obviously God’s plan for Brett to get called up. I told myself whenever I get called up is the time I’m supposed to get called up, so I wasn’t worried about anybody getting called up before me. I knew my time would come and the circumstances would have to line up for me to get up here. I was elated for Brett; that was a lifelong dream for him just to make it. I was more than happy for him, as was everybody else down there. But no, I didn’t have any expectations. I wasn’t mad or anything. They told me that he was going to go up and they checked on me and I told them I was fine. I was nothing but happy for him. I knew my time would come and I just had to be patient.

Q. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., did you play any other sports?

A. I just played basketball in middle school. I didn’t play anything in high school besides baseball. The football coach and the basketball coach were trying to get me, but I wasn’t feeling it. I was all baseball. Growing up, you play everything, but my whole world revolved around baseball.

Q. You don’t get a lot offree time during the season. But when you have some, what do you like to do?

A. I don’t know, watch TV. Call my family. Hang out with some of the guys on the team. Go watch a movie or something. Go bowling. I like to go bowling. I haven’t met anybody that just likes to up and go bowling.

Q. This town has a rich bowling tradition. Did you know that?

A. I heard about Matt Garza’s tournament, and I plan on going to that. But otherwise I don’t do a whole lot. I’m not a fishing guy or anything like that. I just like to just chill. I’m a mellow guy anyway, so I just like to hang out.

Q. Now that you’re here, what’s the next step for Lewis Brinson?

A. Make the right adjustments, man. I’ve got to play my game, stay within myself. Not get ahead of myself. Not get too big, not try to do too much. Everybody’s told me it’s the same game up here so I’m going to keep playing and whenever I’m in there, I’m going to give 110% and whenever my number is called be ready.