JUPITER, Fla.—Few people could have predicted that Garrett Cooper would be back in the position he is in as spring winds down. His own manager didn't even see it coming.
“He’s actually looking better than I thought he would...I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” Don Mattingly said.
Cooper was the Marlins starting right fielder on Opening Day 2018. Slated for a significant role on the club, he made it through only four games before suffering a wrist injury on a HBP against the Cubs. He would return on July 6, but re-aggravated it while diving for a ball 10 games later.