Brendan Donovan -- Injury Report

Brendan Donovan has begun his rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Arkansas after a left groin muscle strain suffered on April 17 sidelined him. In his rehab debut, he went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks as the Travelers' designated hitter. The injury prompted extra scrutiny given its potential connection to his October 2025 sports hernia surgery, making a careful return important for the Mariners.

Before the injury, Donovan had been performing well for Seattle, batting .304 with 3 home runs, 8 RBI, and a .954 OPS through 56 at-bats. He provides the Mariners with a reliable bat that can lengthen innings without relying on power, a valuable skill set the offense has lacked during his absence. J.P. Crawford has adequately filled the leadoff role, recently hitting two home runs against the Braves.

Donovan is expected to progress to fielding work soon, which represents a critical phase of his rehabilitation. The Mariners' offense has functioned without him, but his return would provide another dependable at-bat and reduce the team's reliance on the same offensive contributors night to night.

Brendan Donovan, the Mariners' 29-year-old third baseman, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Arkansas on Monday following a left groin muscle strain. Donovan exited Seattle's 5-0 loss to Texas on April 17 with a left hip issue and was placed on the 10-day injured list three days later. The issue may be related to sports hernia surgery he underwent in October, as he also dealt with right groin discomfort in early April. General Manager Justin Hollander stated the plan is for Donovan to play a couple rehab games in Arkansas before rejoining the Mariners in Chicago on May 8. Through 18 games this season, the 2025 All-Star is batting .304 with 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, and 9 walks. Donovan was acquired from the Cardinals in February via a three-team trade involving the Tampa Bay Rays.

In related roster moves, the Mariners recalled left-handed pitcher Josh Simpson from Triple-A Tacoma and placed right-handed pitcher Matt Brash on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Thursday. Brash was removed from his relief appearance Wednesday against the Twins and holds a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. Simpson made nine appearances in Tacoma, allowing one run in 9⅓ innings. Additionally, right-hander Bryce Miller will make his third rehab start Wednesday for High-A Everett as he continues recovering from injury.

The Seattle Mariners activated third baseman Brendan Donovan from the injured list prior to Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox, reinstating him to the leadoff position. Donovan had been sidelined with a left groin muscle strain stemming from sports hernia surgery performed October 7 while with the Cardinals. He required only one game at Double-A Arkansas before returning to MLB action for the first time since April 17. Prior to his injury, Donovan was performing well with a .304 batting average, 3 home runs, and 8 RBIs across 18 games. The corresponding roster move sent catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma, as Cal Raleigh returned to catching duties. Raleigh had missed three games from Saturday through Monday but returned Tuesday and has experienced no soreness or swing issues since.

Donovan acknowledged that his recovery process remains ongoing, noting that full recovery from sports hernia surgery can take 8 months to a year. He emphasized that managing workload and pelvic positioning are critical components of his rehabilitation. His batting mechanics are heavily pelvic-driven, requiring careful attention to stance and positioning during both swing mechanics and defensive movements such as diving. Donovan used a Trajekt machine while on the injured list to maintain timing and work on proper positioning before returning. On Friday, he concluded his pregame work—including fielding and hitting—by 3 p.m., approximately 3.5 hours before game time, as part of his conservative ramp-up protocol.

Brendan Donovan returned to the Seattle Mariners lineup on Friday after a stint on the injured list, providing clarity on the multiple injury issues that have plagued his first season with the team. The All-Star's problems stem from sports hernia surgery he underwent in the offseason, compounded by a specific incident on March 28 when he jammed his hip while making a sliding catch in foul ground at T-Mobile Park against Cleveland's José Ramírez. Though the injury was officially designated as a left groin strain, Donovan explained the issues are interconnected, involving his hips and the adductor muscles surrounding the groin area.

Donovan emphasized that recovery from sports hernia surgery is more complex than the standard 6-10 week return-to-play timeline suggests. Medical guidance indicates full recovery typically requires 8 months to a year, and he acknowledged he is still learning what recovery entails and how to keep his hips healthy following the procedure. Despite these ongoing issues, Donovan has performed well offensively with a .304 batting average, .437 on-base percentage, and .518 slugging percentage for a .954 OPS, while also improving defensively at third base.

The Seattle Mariners activated All-Star third baseman Brendan Donovan from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener against the White Sox in Chicago. Donovan has been out since April 18 with a left groin muscle strain sustained following sports hernia surgery last fall. To accommodate his return, the team optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma.

Donovan's activation is also a positive indicator for fellow All-Star Cal Raleigh, who has been dealing with a side issue since May 1 and had been unavailable or limited to designated hitter duties. The move eliminates the need for a third catcher on the roster. Donovan completed a rehab assignment with Double-A Arkansas this week, recording 1 hit in 3 at-bats with a double, RBI, and 2 walks, though a scheduled second rehab game was rained out.

When healthy, Donovan has been one of Seattle's best hitters, compiling a .304 batting average with a .954 OPS, .437 on-base percentage, and .518 slugging percentage across 18 games. The 29-year-old former NL Gold Glove winner has served as the Mariners' primary third baseman in 2026 and typically bats leadoff against right-handed starters. The Mariners begin their seven-game road trip Friday at 4:40 p.m.

The Seattle Mariners have activated second baseman Brendan Donovan from the 10-day injured list after he suffered a left groin muscle strain. Donovan, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason, will return to the lineup during the Mariners' series against the Chicago White Sox. Prior to his injury, Donovan had made a successful transition to Seattle, batting .304 with a .954 OPS and 8 RBI over 18 games.

The Mariners enter the series with a 18-20 record, sitting 1.5 games behind the Athletics in the AL West. Beyond Donovan's return, Seattle is also managing other injuries, including Bryce Miller's oblique strain (expected to join the rotation soon) and Cal Raleigh's side soreness. Multiple AL teams, including the Mariners and Blue Jays, have been significantly impacted by injuries this season.

Despite their slow 18-20 start, the Mariners remain competitive within the AL West as most of the American League has struggled out of the gate. The return of key injured players, particularly Donovan, positions the team to gain ground before the rest of the division solidifies. The Mariners-White Sox series begins Friday night with Emerson Hancock starting for Seattle against Sean Burke.

The Seattle Mariners activated Brendan Donovan from the injured list on Friday, returning the leadoff hitter to the lineup at third base. Donovan has been recovering from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and continues to manage residual pain from the procedure. The team optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma to accommodate the move. Donovan was originally scheduled for two rehabilitation games with Double-A Arkansas, but rain in Little Rock postponed the second game where he was to play in the field. He did get to run the bases during his rehab assignment and reported feeling good, noting that getting back into game competition and fielding situations that are difficult to replicate in practice was important for his return.