MIAMI _ Lewis Brinson's trying rookie season with the Marlins has taken another turn for the worse after further testing revealed the injured center fielder has a hip bone bruise.
The new diagnosis means Brinson will be out indefinitely.
"It's just one of those things that's going to take a little bit of time and they'll have to be careful with how they bring him back," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
Brinson was initially placed on the 10-day disabled list for right hip inflammation, an injury that was the result of a diving catch he made in Denver in June.
"We know that bone bruises take longer to heal," Mattingly said. "J.T. (Realmuto) had one in spring training. We thought it was going to be a couple of days and it ended up being (nearly three weeks) into the season. So they definitely take a little bit of time."
Brinson will now rest and abstain from all baseball activities.
Mattingly said the goal is for Brinson to "finish the season being 100 percent healthy."
Brinson's first season with the Marlins hasn't gone as either he or the organization had hoped after they acquired him from the Brewers in the Christian Yelich trade in January.
Brinson is hitting just .186 with an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .570 that ranks 204th of the 209 players with at least 300 plate appearances.
Mattingly said that with Brinson out of the picture for the foreseeable future, most of the duties in center will be shared by Cameron Maybin and Yadiel Rivera, with Maybin receiving the majority of the playing time.
Rivera, an infielder, has played only three games total in the outfield.
"We're not going to run Cam into the ground, so we'll be using Yadi some," Mattingly said. "We're really confident that he can be good out there. He has all the attributes of being able to play center. He runs well. He throws well. He's got good instincts out there. But the one thing he doesn't have is the games out there, and that always helps."
The Marlins could always reach down to the minors to promote Magneuris Sierra, who is hitting .262 with 14 stolen bases for Triple-A New Orleans.
But Mattingly gave strong indication the Marlins are content with the tandem of Maybin and Rivera, at least for now.
