s today:BRYCE IS BACKFrom the moment Bryce Harper signed his $330 million http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , 13-year deal with the Phillies, this game is the one everyone has been thinking about: Tuesday night marks Harper’s initial visit to Nationals Park to face his former team. What will the crowd’s reaction be the first time he steps to that plate in a uniform other than Washington’s? What sort of tribute will there be from the Nationals? What sort of gesture will the outfielder himself make? And how will Harper, who loves the spotlight, fare in the reunion — especially against Max Scherzer? Philadelphia enters as baseball’s only undefeated team, 3-0 after pummeling the Braves at home — an effort helped by two long home runs from Harper.ANOTHER LOOKThe Indians have sent All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor for a second opinion on a left ankle injury that could be more serious than first believed. Lindor was in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Monday, visiting foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. Lindor injured his ankle while playing in a minor league game last week. The Indians initially diagnosed the injury as an “acute sprain” but sent Lindor to Anderson for a second look. Cleveland sure could use him in the lineup. The team has scored 10 runs through four games this season, batting .164 with a .485 OPS.BEAT UP IN THE BRONXWith Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar hitting the injured list Monday, nearly half of New York’s starting lineup is on the sidelines four games into the season. Stanton strained his left biceps taking a swing Sunday, and Andujar suffered a small labrum tear in his right shoulder diving into third base on a pickoff attempt. Stanton will rest for 10 days and be re-evaluated, but could miss most of April. Andujar will get treatment for a couple weeks Randy Johnson Jersey , but there’s a chance he’ll need season-ending surgery.START OVERRed Sox lefty Chris Sale makes his second start after getting thumped by Seattle in Boston’s opener. Sale allowed seven runs and three homers over three innings, looking rusty after getting a lighter workload in spring training. The Red Sox hoped that limiting their starters early might make them more effective late in the year, but Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Eduardo Rodriguez and Rick Porcello all got hit hard the first time through the rotation. Sale will face Oakland’s Mike Fiers (1-1, 5.00), already making his third start this season, including during a two-game series in Tokyo. Fish Stripes interviewed Cooper about rebounding from a lost season and what he wants to show the world in Spring Training."WhiteFanposts Sections News & RumorsAnalysisPodcastsProspects & DraftGame CoverageFull ArchiveMasthead Social Marlins Players on TwitterFish Stripes on InstagramMarlins Media Members Fish Stripes Best of 2018 Marlins StoriesScheduleRosterStatsCommunity Guidelines StubHub 鉁旻ish Stripes Exclusives2019 Marlins Season PreviewGarrett Cooper “ready to help the team win anywhere I can”Fish Stripes interviewed Cooper about rebounding from a lost season and what he wants to show the world in Spring Training.ESTShareTweetShareShareGarrett Cooper “ready to help the team win anywhere I can”Miami MarlinsJUPITER, Fla.—It’s the middle of January and the back practice fields at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium are getting some early work. A special hitters camp is taking place, intended for young Marlins prospects...with a few exceptions.The combination of his age (28) and height (6-6) make Garrett Cooper impossible to miss. The Marlins acquired Cooper from the Yankees in November 2017 along with left-hander Caleb Smith in exchange for pitching prospect Michael King and international bonus pool money. He was handpicked by vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo, who had seen him up close the previous year when he was in the midst of his best pro season. Now with a rebuilding franchise, the late-bloomer was penciled in for a substantial major league role.He couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Cooper slashed .212/.316/.242 in 14 Marlins games (10 starts) during a forgettable campaign derailed by injuries. A Kyle Hendricks hit by pitch caught him awkwardly on the right wrist A. J. Pollock Jersey , ultimately requiring surgery to get him back to full strength for 2019.Here we are going into his second Spring Training with Miami and Cooper tells Fish Stripes that he is seeking redemption:That’s music to the ears of Marlins coaches and fans alike. His willingness to provide versatility is key considering the expected breakdown of 13 pitchers and only 12 position players on the active roster.The Auburn University alum says he is focused on securing an Opening Day spot again. Easier said than done. When Cooper was sidelined last September, Peter O’Brien emerged as a promising right-handed slugger. He posted a team-best .868 OPS while starting regularly at first base. The Marlins were not shy about putting the Hialeah native in the middle of their “Our Colores” rebranding campaign, further suggesting that they anticipate O’Brien being a key contributor to the 2019 team.There are also a couple new veterans in the clubhouse. Neil Walker and Curtis Granderson both agreed to one-year deals with the Marlins, expected to receive the majority of their playing time at first base and the corner outfield spots, respectively.Cooper has managed to keep a great outlook, confident that his abilities can earn him major league playing time regardless.Way below the radar at this time two years ago, Cooper’s monstrous production in 2017 at Triple-A Colorado Springs (Brewers affiliate) changed all that. He was a .366/.428/.652 hitter through 75 games with 17 home runs, shattering his previous career high of nine.“I found a swing that generated more gap-to-gap power potential,” Cooper says. “I started to incorporate more of a launch angle to really drive through the ball.”Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsHe was poised to bring that impact bat to his new surroundings. Cooper had a .821 OPS in 24 games last spring, including two homers during the final week of Grapefruit League. The main challenge going forward is recapturing the right timing at the plate against real pitching, he says.Due to his inactivity since then, the 28-year-old still clings to his prospect eligibility. While he wasn’t represented on the December edition of our Fish Stripes Top 25 http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , national outlets FanGraphs and Prospects Live each ranked Cooper among the best talent in the Marlins organization. Evaluators believe in his plus-plus raw power with a quality hit tool...assuming that the injuries are fully behind him. Marlins full-squad workouts get underway on Monday, providing Cooper with a five-week window to demonstrate that he belongs at the highest level. With two minor league options remaining, there’s also the possibility that he goes down to Triple-A New Orleans initially, getting his reps in a low-stakes environment.CEO Derek Jeter and the rest of the Marlins front office continue to preach patience while admitting they’re anxious to see better results from a team that piled up 98 losses in 2018. Cooper could be part of the solution—their 3.66 runs per game average last season was third-worst in franchise history. However, the latest forecast from PECOTA only pegs them for a slight improvement (68-94, 3.80 R/G) on their way to another last-place finish.“All the scouts and writers believe they know what will happen,” Cooper says, “but all I’m saying is to give this team a chance and we will shock some people. It’s time for people to buy into Miami.”I wanna thank Garrett for taking the time to do this interview with me. Make sure you give him a follow on Twitter (@CoopaLoop1) and Instagram (@coopaloop28). Look for him in right field on Opening Day if all goes according to plan.