Prospects ready to make strong first impression

MIAMI -- You only get one chance to make a first impression.
If that's the case, the Marlins are elated at what they've seen so far from top prospect Lewis Brinson. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder not only is a physical presence, his energy and enthusiasm also make him a logical choice to become a team leader and face of the franchise.
South Florida-raised in Coral Springs, Brinson grew up a Marlins fan.
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After being acquired from the Brewers in late January as part of the Christian Yelich trade, Brinson has not hidden his appreciation to be joining the Marlins.
"I'm super, super excited to be in Miami," Brinson recently said on MLB Network's Hot Stove show. "To come back and play in front of the home crowd, and play for the team I grew up watching and loving, it's a great honor to do that."
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The Marlins are going through an organizational transition. After eight straight losing seasons, they've broken up the core that had been together for several years.
When Spring Training opens for Miami with pitchers and catchers workouts on Feb. 14, the club will be showcasing its new additions. Many of them rank highly on top prospects lists. Brinson, according to MLB Pipeline, is Miami's No. 1 prospect and ranks 27th on MLB's Top 100 list. Fellow outfielder Monte Harrison, also part of the Brewers' trade, rates second on the team's list and 71st in the Top 100.

Seven of the Marlins' top 10 prospects were acquired in trades made this offseason. Six of them, including Brinson and Harrison, will be in big league camp.
The new collection of young players takes the field for the first time on Feb. 14 at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla. Full-squad practices get going on Feb. 19.
Right-hander Sandy Alcantara is the Marlins' No. 3 prospect, and outfielder Magneuris Sierra is seventh. Alcantara and Sierra were part of the Marcell Ozuna deal in December with the Cardinals. The two will be competing for Opening Day roster spots.

Infielder Isan Díaz, who came over from the Brewers, is ninth on the prospect list, and right-hander Nick Neidert, part of the Dee Gordon trade with the Mariners, is 10th.
"A lot of things are happening in Miami right now," Brinson said. "I'm ecstatic. The team that we have, obviously, it's dismantled a little bit. But I think the guys we have on the team right now are good players and great Major League players. I think we can do a lot of things. Maybe not this year. It's going to take some time, but I think if you just believe in the process that everybody has been saying, I think we'll be good in the next couple of years."