SEATTLE -- Brendan Donovan might be on the fast track to becoming a fan favorite in Seattle.
The Mariners’ new third baseman wasted no time getting acclimated to his new digs in the Mariners' 6-4 Opening Day loss, blasting a leadoff home run off Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee that sent the T-Mobile Park crowd into a frenzy.
Donovan jumped on a 94.6 mph fastball at the top of the zone in a 3-1 count and yanked it 353 feet and just inside the right-field foul pole, evening things up at 1-1 in the first inning.
It was the club’s first leadoff home run on Opening Day in franchise history, which is saying something -- both for a player who should solidify that role throughout 2026, and for a team that lacked a true leadoff man in ‘25.
Acquired from the Cardinals one week before Spring Training, Donovan quickly endeared himself to teammates for his extreme preparation and to fans for playing like his “hair is on fire.”
Donovan went on to have one of the most productive camps of all Mariners hitters, going 19-for-46 (.413) while playing each of his 17 games at the hot corner, the position that he’s transitioned to full-time.
Seattle’s front office had long coveted Donovan before ultimately landing him on Feb. 2 as part of a three-team trade that also included Tampa Bay.
The club paid a hefty price to finally reel him in, parting ways with third baseman Ben Williamson, right-hander Jurrangelo Cijntje (MLB's No. 91 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), outfielder Tai Peete (was Mariners' No. 11 prospect, now Cardinals' No. 18) and its Competitive Balance Round B pick in this year’s MLB Draft (No. 68 overall).
But doing so was worth it to help fortify a lineup in which Donovan looked like a capstone piece. He certainly showed it with his first impression on Thursday.