Seattle Mariners fans, get ready to welcome Brendan Donovan, who’s already making waves as we gear up for opening day. In a recent Cactus League game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Donovan wasted no time showing his prowess.
On the very first pitch he faced from Brewers' right-hander Carlos Rodriguez, Donovan launched a 94 mph fastball over the right field wall for a leadoff solo homer. Talk about making an entrance!
This was Donovan’s first home run of the spring, and it’s got everyone buzzing. After being linked to the Mariners throughout the offseason, Donovan finally joined the team in a three-way trade with the St.
Louis Cardinals on February 2nd. The deal also involved switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, outfielder Tai Pete, and a Competitive Balance Round B pick heading to the Cardinals, while third baseman Ben Williamson moved to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Donovan’s arrival is seen as a key move for Seattle, with many considering him the missing piece of their offseason puzzle. Sure, spring training stats can be deceptive, but Donovan is definitely living up to the hype.
Following his homer and a walk in his next at-bat, he’s boasting an impressive spring slash line of .429/.488/.571, along with a 1.059 OPS, two doubles, six RBIs, and four walks against five strikeouts. Not to mention, he had a stellar four-hit game on Sunday and five multi-hit games in just 12 appearances.
Known for his versatility, Donovan was an All-Star in 2025 and can cover multiple positions defensively. He’s set to kick off the season as Seattle’s third baseman and leadoff hitter. With performances like this, Donovan is quickly becoming a fan favorite and a player to watch as the Mariners look to make a splash this season.