The Seattle Mariners have been one of the most disappointing teams this year. After coming just one win short of reaching the World Series in 2025, they reloaded this past offseason in free agency and the trade market. One of their most notable moves was acquiring utility infielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals .
Unfortunately, Donovan's first season with the Mariners has been derailed by injuries. He has played just 39 games, and when on the field the 29-year-old All-Star has been exactly as advertised, posting a .277 batting average, .371 on-base percentage, .780 OPS, three home runs and 15 RBIs across 137 at-bats.
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The problem is he simply has not played due to multiple setbacks with his left groin that have led to two separate stints on the injured list.
Now he is headed back to the IL, but a different one this time and for a reason that is certainly unlucky. Donovan was struck in the head in the batting cages prior to Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs .
He was scratched from the lineup, and the issue was serious enough that he was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list. The Mariners recalled Patrick Wisdom from Triple-A as the corresponding roster move.
It is unclear how severe Donovan's setback is, but he will have to clear the necessary concussion protocol hurdles before he is eligible to return. Wisdom makes sense as the replacement given his versatility to play both the infield and outfield and his solid performance in the minor leagues this year.
Wisdom has appeared with the Mariners previously this season but struggled mightily, collecting just five hits across 44 plate appearances. He will hope to perform considerably better this time around in Donovan's absence.
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