4/08/26
Brinkley was a name I came across through the social media sphere of seeing players posting videos, and it was one I was intrigued to get eyes on personally. Plus, after Hank LoForte (NorCal Scouting Director) saw him at a tournament the previous week and raved about his style of play, I was even more intrigued. Brinkley backed up the quality of what I had seen on video and from LoForte’s reports on him immediately. With a compact hit first style swing that hammered line drives during the pre-game batting practice session that translated into a sound approach at the plate in the game, he collected a lone hit on the day, but Brinkley took a deep count ABs across multiple plate appearances and can go from line to line with solid contact (his hit was a double to the opposite field). He moves with fluid actions on the dirt and confidence in his hands, being able to play with rhythm and two-hands on routine plays, but athletically and one-handed on difficult plays, showing all the foundational skills needed to stick at SS at the next level. Signed to play for the hometown Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, Brinkley is another piece of a talented 2026 class for the program that I personally really like as a player who can impact the program's fortunes once on campus.