Brenly was the Giants' starting catcher from 1984 to 1987, averaging 18 home runs per season and providing steady defense. The burly right-hander was signed as a third baseman out of Ohio University (where he tied Mike Schmidt's single-season HR record), then switched to catcher in 1979, his fourth pro season. He continued to fill in at third or first base when necessary in the majors, and played 45 games at third in 1986.

Brenly won the Giants' starting catching job in 1984, hitting .291 with 20 HR and 80 RBI. He would never hit better than .267 again but he remained a consistent power threat. In Game Four of the 1987 NLCS he homered off the Cardinals' Danny Cox.

In the fourth inning of a game against the Braves on September 14, 1986, Brenly tied a major-league record with four errors at third base, booting three grounders and throwing wildly once to allow four unearned runs. In the fifth inning he hit a solo home run, and in the seventh he added a two-run single to tie the score, 6-6. In the bottom of the ninth with two out and the count full, he homered to win the game.

Brenly was released by the Giants after hitting only .189 in 1988. The Blue Jays signed him but released him in mid-1989. Popular in San Francisco, he was signed for their stretch drive, and after his retirement became a Giants coach.

After several seasons in the broadcast booth, Brenly was hired to replace Buck Showalter as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in October 2000.

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