Muñoz avoids serious knee injury, could return Tuesday

SEATTLE -- Andrés Muñoz has avoided a significant injury to his right knee and could return to the Mariners’ bullpen immediately.

Seattle’s closer underwent an MRI on Tuesday morning, two days after abruptly exiting an outing in Denver with the issue that revealed “nothing serious, nothing structurally concerning,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said before the club’s two-game series opener against the Astros.

Muñoz was slated to go through a pregame workout, after which the club would determine if he was available for Tuesday night’s game. He was seen wearing a brace on the knee before players took the field for drills.

Muñoz exited Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Rockies after surrendering a solo homer to Hunter Goodman followed by a five-pitch walk to TJ Rumfield. It was after the walk that he showed more discomfort with the knee.

“It's just something that he's been dealing with off and on a little bit,” Hollander said. “Some hip soreness and knee soreness. So there's not like an event that caused the injury. Just the usual rigors of the season.”

Hollander also provided updates on the rest of the Mariners’ recovering players, in his final state-of-the-IL address before the end of the regular season.

Brendan Donovan (concussion) will not return on this final homestand, meaning that his debut season in Seattle is over. The infielder/outfielder will visit with specialist Dr. Stanley A. Herring at UW Medicine on Wednesday for a followup, and he could begin baseball activities shortly after the season ends, or sooner.

In passing on Tuesday, Donovan said that he’s been going through successful ocular therapy and is feeling much better than when he opened up about his debilitating symptoms two weeks ago. At that time, the schedule’s mathematics suggested that a return this season would be a longshot.

Donovan suffered the concussion on Aug. 22 and wound up playing in just 39 games in 2026. Acquired in a splashy three-team trade leading into Spring Training, Donovan remains under club control through next season.

Emerson Hancock’s season could also be over. It’s possible that he’s activated from the 15-day IL and could be available in relief in the coming days, but that will hinge on whether there’s value in doing so, per Hollander. The abductor strain that Hancock suffered in Toronto three weeks ago won’t impact his offseason program.

Also, Matt Brash (right lat strain) recently received a platelet-rich plasma injection while recovering in Arizona. He will be down from his normal offseason program until roughly eight weeks after the season ends.