Mariners INF Brendan Donovan (groin) returns from IL

Field Level Media|published: Fri 8th May, 16:27 2026

Apr 12, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan (33) runs towards home plate to score a run against the Houston Astros during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners infielder Brendan Donovan was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday after recovering from a left groin strain.

As a member of the St. Louis Cardinals last August, Donovan went on the IL with a left groin strain and missed nearly a month, and he underwent sports hernia surgery last October. Donovan and Mariners manager Dan Wilson have indicated the current groin issue needs to be closely monitored and is likely related to the October surgery.

Donovan went 1-for-3 with one double and two walks in a one-game rehab assignment with Double-A Arkansas on Tuesday.

In a corresponding move, the Mariners optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma.

Out since April 20, Donovan is batting .304 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 18 games this season, his first since coming over from the Cardinals in a three-team trade in the offseason.

Two of his home runs this season are leadoff home runs, including the first Opening Day leadoff homer in Mariners' history on March 26 against the Cleveland Guardians.

The versatile Donovan, 29, earned an All-Star spot last season as a second baseman, but he appeared at every position except pitcher, catcher and center field during his four-year run with the Cardinals that featured a slash line of .283/.364/.414. He earned a Gold Glove for his utility work during his rookie year in 2022.

St. Louis selected Donovan in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He is a career .283 hitter with 43 homers and 210 RBIs in 510 regular-season games.

Pereda appeared in two games after being called up Saturday when infielder Will Wilson was placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured left thumb. The 30-year-old has a career batting average of .241 with eight RBIs in 48 games with the Miami Marlins (2024), Athletics (2025) and Minnesota Twins (2025).

Pereda achieved a level of fame on May 15, 2025 when he pitched the bottom of the eighth inning of the Athletics' 19-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and struck out Shohei Ohtani, who hit two homers earlier in the game.

--Field Level Media

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