Cooper was taken out of Sunday’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park after he was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of the series finale at Oracle.
According to the Marlins, Cooper was diagnosed with a left wrist contusion but did not require X-rays.
“I’m glad it’s only a bruise,” Cooper said, adding that he doesn’t expect to miss much playing time when the Marlins play the Los Angeles Angels on Monday and Tuesday as part of their season-opening road trip.
In the bottom half of the inning, Miguel Rojas, who was not in the opening lineup, replaced Cooper at first base. The Marlins’ other first baseman, Jesus Aguilar, was already in the lineup as a DH.
Cooper was hit on the wrist by a 92.8 mph sinker from Anthony DeSclafani on a 2-1 count. At first base, Don Mattingly and Cooper’s trainer stood guard as Cooper made his way to first base after being intentionally hit by a pitch.
However, he remained on the basepaths until the next half inning when he was taken out of the game.
Cooper is batting second for the Marlins against the Giants, and he’s 3 for 11 with a run batted in (on the hit by pitch).
Cooper has struggled with injuries since joining the Marlins prior to the 2018 season. Every year he’s played less than 100 games.
Over the last four seasons, he’s spent seven different times on the injured list.
There were two right wrist surgeries, a left calf strain and hand contusion in 2019; an episode of COVID-19 in 2020, and a lumbar strain and UCL rupture on his left elbow, which necessitated surgery, during the course of the year.