Brinkley graduated from Sacred Heart University in 1991, however was not drafted by any Major League Baseball team despite batting .528 in his senior year.

[1] Brinkley instead played in the Netherlands and Italy for three years before signing with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League.

[1] Brinkley's winter success attracted the attention of the San Diego Padres, who signed him for the 1996 season at the age of 27.

Assigned to the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Brinkley batted .363 and was named a California League All-Star.

When he was not recalled by the Orioles when the roster expanded on September 1, 2001, Brinkley flew to Australia at the conclusion of the International League season.

Brinkley's greatest success to date came with the Vipers in 2007, where he became the first player in Northern League history to finish the season with a .400 batting average.