Miami Marlins Garrett Cooper To Undergo Wrist Surgery

MIAMI, FL - JULY 15: Garrett Cooper #30 of the Miami Marlins slides into second base after hitting a double during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on July 15, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JULY 15: Garrett Cooper #30 of the Miami Marlins slides into second base after hitting a double during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on July 15, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Miami Marlins outfielder Garrett Cooper will undergo surgery on his wrist and may be done for the 2018 season.

Miami Marlins outfielder Garrett Cooper started the season as the team’s right fielder on Opening Day. He may have ended his season and will undergo surgery on a wrist injury that has been bothering him since the second game of the 2018 season.

The Marlins made the announcement after Cooper suffered a setback in a rehab assignment in Jupiter, Florida with the Hammerheads.

The organization had hoped he would be one of the players moved to the Major Leagues when the team expands its roster on Saturday.

Cooper, who served as a utility player while in South Florida, played a total of 14 games this season in a Marlins uniform.

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Per Maureen Mullen of MLB.com, Cooper has not played a game since July 20 after sustaining a right wrist sprain, is scheduled to have surgery Friday.

“With limited time this season, Cooper, the Marlins’ Opening Day right fielder who was acquired from the Yankees in November, may face roster competition next season with Brian Anderson, Lewis Brinson (expected to be activated from the disabled list Saturday), Austin Dean, Derek Dietrich, Rafael Ortega and Magneuris Sierra,” she wrote.

The Cooper injury does open the door for the Marlins to bring up one more player from their minor league system.

It also means manager Don Mattingly will not be able to get him the 100 at-bats he had discussed for Brinson and his injured player.

“It’s a setback for sure,” Mattingly said in a sun-sentinel.com story by Wells Dusenbury.

The Marlins will make moves with their 40-man roster after the season. While Cooper is part of the list, someone like centerfielder Monte Harrison, the team’s top prospect according to MLB Pipeline, could be an addition.

The surgery is specifically to repair the right wrist tendon. Cooper was hit by a Kyle Hendricks pitch in the opening series of the season with the Chicago Cubs and has not recovered since.

“In his mind – it’s probably a wasted year. He’s had the chance to make the club, show what he can do at the big league level, hoping for extended at-bats and didn’t really get to do any of that, Mattingly added. “It’s like anything else – you can’t look at it like a wall; it’s a speed bump and you have to go over it or around it. That’s how you accomplish something. You don’t let anything stand in your way.”