Donovan's Return Delayed

The Cardinal Chronicle
Donovan's Return Delayed
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Brendan Donovan’s long-awaited return to Busch Stadium will have to wait.
The Mariners placed Donovan on the 10-day IL Monday with a left groin strain, retroactive to April 18, likely ruling him out for next weekend’s St. Louis series—a date fans had quietly circled since the offseason trade.

It’s not expected to be a long-term issue, but it’s enough to sideline him at the wrong time.

Donovan was pulled from Friday’s game with what was first called a hip issue and missed the weekend. He’d already dealt with a right groin problem earlier, possibly tied to his October sports hernia surgery. The Mariners say it’s precautionary, but in baseball, that still means he’s out.

And unavailable means absent from Busch.

Some players pass through St. Louis; others leave a mark.

Donovan was the latter.

A seventh-round pick in 2018, he wasn’t projected as a clubhouse cornerstone. But from his April 2022 debut, he played the way Cardinals fans admire—hard, steady, and humble.

In 374 games as a Cardinal, Donovan posted a .280/.364/.407 line, with a .771 OPS, 30 home runs, and 152 RBIs—solid, reliable numbers. But his value went beyond stats.

He was the guy managers trusted everywhere.
Second base? Check.
Third base? Check
Shortstop in a pinch? Check
Corner outfield? Check.

He didn’t just fill positions - he stabilized them.

That kind of player doesn’t get forgotten in St. Louis. Not ever.

His 2022 Gold Glove and 2024 finalist nod only confirmed what fans knew: Donovan was versatile and dependable, night after night.

Donovan’s offseason exit reminded everyone that, for all its emotion, baseball is business. With team control ending in 2025, the Cardinals moved Donovan while his value was high. Seattle acquired him in a three-team deal, betting on his versatility, discipline, and professionalism.

Before the IL stint, Donovan was hot in Seattle: .304/.437/.518 in limited action. He’d already carved out a role, mostly at third, and moved around as needed.
Same player. Different uniform.

Seattle will patch things together, leaning on Leo Rivas and Will Wilson, while not rushing top prospect Colt Emerson.

For the Cardinals, there’s no roster impact here.

But for the fans?

That’s where this one hits.

Next weekend wasn’t just another interleague series. It was a moment to thank Donovan, tip the cap, and welcome back a player who did things right.
Instead, that moment is postponed.

Not canceled. Just delayed.

And when it finally comes — because it will — don’t expect a quiet reception.

St. Louis has always remembered its own.

The Cardinal Chronicle in association with Gateway Sports