Injuries end the season for two Miami Marlins outfielders
The Marlins have announced the season has ended for outfielders Magneuris Sierra and Garrett Cooper because of injuries. Both made an impact on the team this season.
Magneuris Sierra and Garrett Cooper may be taking the remainder of the 2019 season off, but it was not by choice. The Miami Marlins have announced that injuries are the reason the two outfielders will not be part of the final week of the season.
As Bill Ladson of MLB.com wrote, what the Marlins coaching staff and front office saw from Cooper was enough to know what he can do at the plate and should help him become a major part of the team’s outfield in 2020.
“Coop played enough this year to give us an idea of who he can be and what he can be,” Mattingly said,” Ladson wrote. “I think we’ve had a pretty decent assessment of Garrett. I feel pretty good [about him] as we get into our [offseason] meetings at the end of the year.”
With 15 home runs, while playing time was cut short because of various injuries, Cooper could approach 25-30 home runs next year is he can stay healthy.
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For Sierra, the Sept. 1 call up has been beneficial. He has had the speed to burn and started the season at Double-A Jacksonville. He, Brian Miller and Stone Garrett comprised one of the fastest outfields in all of Minor League Baseball.
The Marlins could use his defensive skills and his base-stealing ability to make him an every-day centerfielder and leadoff hitter.
Sierra must continue to find a consistent swing to remain on the Major League roster for manager Don Mattingly and his coaching staff.
“Sierra, who did not travel with the team to New York for Miami’s series against the Mets, went 14-for 40 with three stolen bases after his September callup,” Ladson wrote. “Mattingly sees a big difference compared to the Sierra of last year.”
The Marlins will have a few decisions to make about which players carry over to the 25-man roster next season in the outfield. There are several prospects who could be ready to make the jump from Triple-A to the Majors. Sierra, Harold Ramirez, and Austin Dean have produced in recent days to make a lasting impression.
Mattingly spoke more about what he has seen from Sierra, which he hopes continues in February.
“I was disappointed seeing him limping [on Sunday], more [from] the standpoint of we were seeing him make big strides from where he was last year,” Mattingly said. “He seemed timid in the outfield, nervous. He came a long way in one year. You would like to see a little more of it. We have to make decisions, but I think he gave us a good enough look. The fact that he improved that much is a really good sign for him.”