Wrist injury could cost Cooper rest of year

MIAMI — Garrett Cooper’s hard-luck season could be coming to a close after re-injuring his right wrist during a rehab start.

The Marlins outfielder/ first baseman, who’s played in just 14 games in the majors this year, has been returned from High-A Jupiter and will have his wrist examined by a hand specialist. With just over a month remaining in the regular season, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said there’s a good chance the rookie wi l l be shut down for the remainder of the year.

“It ’s a setback for sure,” Mattingly said. “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. 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.”

The Marlins’ Opening Day starter in right field, Cooper’s season has been rife with injuries. In the second game of the year, Cooper was hit by a pitch in the right wrist and sent to the disabled list after seeing just seven at-bats.

After a rehab stint with New Orleans, Cooper re- turned to the Miami lineup on July 6, but re-injured his wrist 10 games later while fielding a ball at Tampa Bay.

Earlier this month, Mattingly was optimistic Cooper could come back and potentially see 100 atbats in the final month since the team didn’t have an opportunity to evaluate him on the big league level.

“He got hurt so early, we haven’t seen him get in any rhythm,” Mattingly said on Aug. 8. “He’s the one guy I really want to find out and see what he can do.”

During his most recent rehab stint with Jupiter, he went 3 for 18 in seven games. His final appearance was on Wednesday when we went 0 for 4 against the Florida Fire Frogs.

For the season, Cooper played in just 14 MLB games, hitting .212 (7 for 33).

Acquired from the Yankees in November, Cooper is in a tough bind as the Marlins evaluate their outfield future. Miami has a logjam of players with Austin Dean, Rafael Ortega, Magneuris Sierra, Lewis Brinson, Brian Anderson and Derek Dietrich all see- ing time. While Dietrich and Anderson have the flexibility to play in the infield, Cooper’s lack of time has set him behind the other outfielders.

Brinson — the Opening Day starter in centerfield — is inching closer toward a return to the big leagues. While he’s been on the DL since July 4, Brinson has been progressing during his rehab stint. On Saturday, the team moved him from Double -A Jacksonville to Triple-A New Orleans.

Cooper