Cooper improving, hopes to return this weekend

Walker avoids injured list, Brinson to start with Baby Cakes

May 1st, 2019

MIAMI -- Finally, some good injury-related news for , who was struck on the left hand Tuesday in the Marlins’ 7-4 loss to the Indians at Marlins Park.

Cooper felt considerably better on Wednesday, and after Thursday’s off-day, he is hopeful to be in the lineup at some point during the weekend series with the Braves at Marlins Park.

“He’s had a lot of rough luck as far as injuries and not being able to stay on the field,” manager Don Mattingly said.

With much of the swelling down, Cooper said when he starts swinging again, he plans on experimenting with wearing a protective guard over his batting glove.

“I’ll toy with it,” Cooper said. “I’ll take some dry swings [Thursday], and put it on and see how it goes, and Friday when I get on the field and hit.”

Even though the Marlins are off on Thursday, Cooper will receive treatment and test the hand swinging.

“It feels better,” he said.

Cooper was plunked by a Trevor Bauer 95.6 mph fastball on the back of his left hand. The 28-year-old exited in the third inning on the day he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list due to a left calf strain.

An X-ray taken Tuesday night came back negative.

“I’ve never been hit in the hand like that,” Cooper said. “You don’t really expect something like that to happen.”

In 2018, Cooper was struck on the right wrist in the second game of the season, and he ended up having season-ending surgery after re-injuring it in July.

“After getting hit in the wrist last year, I’m thinking, ‘Wow, this happened again,’ “ Cooper said. “It’s part of baseball. Guys get hit.”

Because of Cooper’s power potential, pitchers are going to throw in on him to get him off the plate.

Mattingly added that Cooper tends to open up in a way that exposes his hands, making them vulnerable to being hit.

“There are ways to protect him from the way he hits,” Mattingly said. “His hands lead, and it’s hard to get out of the way when the ball chases him.”

Worth noting

• Like Cooper, the Marlins are confident infielder will not need to go on the injured list. Walker hasn’t started since last Thursday at Philadelphia, when he suffered a left knee bone bruise. Walker has been available to pinch-hit. The hope is he is ready to play the field on Friday.

, who was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday, is expected to be in the Baby Cakes' lineup as early as Wednesday. Brinson has two options remaining, and the team wants to see him get his mechanics back in order. Brinson’s lower-half has been opening up early, making it difficult for him to cover the entire plate. Brinson will play mostly center field at New Orleans with Monte Harrison playing more right field.

is on the Triple-A seven-day injured list with back spasms. When he is reinstated, he will play shortstop, along with some outfield.

• Right-hander (gastroenteritis) threw 1 2/3 innings on rehab assignment for Class A Advanced Jupiter on Tuesday, and he could be ready to be reinstated as early as Friday.

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Joe Frisaro covered the Marlins for MLB.com from 2002-20.