Marlins 2020: Is this Lewis Brinson’s last shot with the team?

Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson knows he has to play better in 2020 if he wants to remain a part of the organization moving forward.

Maybe the one thing Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson is going to be thankful for this week on Thanksgiving is another opportunity to prove he has a place on the team’s Major League roster.

The 25-year-old who was the major puzzle piece in the deal they sent Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers two seasons ago, has not fared as well as the front office would have liked him too since becoming part of this organization. If you ask Brinson candidly, he will tell you that he’s not pleased with his performance either.

“I’ve got to perform,” Brinson said via MLB.com. “That’s the name of the game up here. I’ve got to contribute to the team more. To be on this team, and where we’re going, and where everything is going for us, so far, I’ve got to contribute.”

While he still is part of the team as plans so far for the 2020 season, there is a sense of urgency for him to finally put things together and become the all-around player many believe he can be.

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The problem with Brinson is he looks really good in Spring Training and hits the cover off the baseball in the minors, but that has not translated to baseball’s top level. Last season he still hit below .200 for the year in Miami after spending a majority the time at AAA New Orleans. He will be given every opportunity to make the 26-man roster this year and win a starting spot in the lineup.

But he does have competition.

Jon Berti is already on the team’s roster. He can play multiple positions and hit leadoff. Monte Harrison could very well make the team’s roster out of camp, and he can play multiple outfield positions and hit first in the batting order. Jesus Sanchez is another possibility.

And of course, there is free agency and the potential for the front office to make a trade to bring somebody in. All of this, along with the need for Brinson to improve mightily, makes for an interesting off-season and the beginning of camp which begins in a few short months.

“There’s still a belief that he’s going to be a very productive Major League player,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said earlier in the offseason, according to Joe Frisaro.“It’s just up to him to put it all together,” Hill added. “What we’ve all been working on with him is becoming more of a consistent player, and taking care of the swing mechanics so that all of that ability can show up on the field every day.”