This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer’s Mariners Beat newsletter. Melanie Rau filled in on this edition. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SEATTLE -- Ichiro never shortchanges his intensity on a baseball field, and Brendan Donovan learned that the hard way this week.
But also in the best way.
Donovan went through what he said was his most rigorous workout yet in his return from a left groin muscle strain by fielding hard-chopping ground balls on Tuesday. In the batter’s box slicing them with extra exertion was none other than the Japanese sensation and 2025 Hall of Fame inductee, who was in town this week.
To be sure, Donovan did just fine when corralling the roughly two dozen balls hit his way.
But he worked up quite a sweat, and the high-tech tracking vest that he was wearing to measure his running volume read that he was nearing 85-90% of his maximum sprint effort during separate running drills.
“The training staff has done an awesome job,” Donovan said.
If all continues to go well, Donovan said that he could begin a Minor League rehab assignment next week.
And because he’ll need at least a full week of at-bats, if not more, he’ll likely transition to the Arizona Complex League once the sport halts for the All-Star break. Even the Minors take those same four days off, from July 13-16.
This all points to him returning in the second half, but potentially on the early end.
“Obviously, I'm not good at sitting, watching,” Donovan said. “So I'm kind of all over the place during the games -- in the dugout, in the cage -- like, I'm all over the place. But I'm ready to get back out there.”
Tuesday’s workout with Ichiro was at second base, but Donovan also was in left field on Monday, and will move to third base on Thursday then right field on Friday.
He is indeed transitioning to a super utility role that the club had long envisioned when acquiring him from the Cardinals just before Spring Training.
“I actually like it,” said Donovan, who won the 2022 Gold Glove Award at the utility position as a rookie. “It's just kind of what I'm used to. It makes it more fun that way.”
Donovan began the season as Seattle’s everyday third baseman, but the Mariners had always viewed him moving into a more versatile role once Colt Emerson reached the big leagues for good.
That just so happened to be the corresponding roster move when Donovan was placed on the IL for the second time on May 17.
Emerson is now entrenched as Seattle’s everyday shortstop, with veteran J.P. Crawford moving off the premium position and to third base full-time.
At second base, Cole Young has played every inning over the Mariners’ first 87 games, but that will likely change once Donovan returns and can give the 22-year-old the occasional breather. The same goes for left fielder Randy Arozarena, who’s made two starts at designated hitter since returning from the IL on June 23.
Donovan himself will likely necessitate DH days, too, given that the Mariners want this return from the IL to be for good. The Mariners also have lefty-hitting Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley in the right field and DH mix to account for.
Essentially, how they piece their lineup together once Donovan returns will be of intrigue. But it will also be a great problem to have.