Brendan Donovan was out of the Seattle Mariners’ lineup for the second consecutive day ahead of Sunday’s series finale against Texas, but he was expected to be available off the bench, according to an April 19 update.
Donovan has been dealing with left hip tightness since leaving Friday’s game and is considered day to day. The team does not expect him to be placed on the 10-day injured list at this time.
Manager Dan Wilson said, “We continue to make our adjustments; that’s what baseball is. And we’ll continue to make our adjustments as we go. Maybe it’s a DH day here and there. Maybe it’s other things we look at.” Wilson also explained that Donovan tweaked his left hip during a play at third base on Friday night.
Donovan previously missed two starts due to right groin discomfort two weeks ago in Anaheim and sat out another two games last weekend because of illness. Both Donovan and Wilson have suggested that the earlier groin issue may have been related to sports hernia surgery he underwent last October while with St. Louis. “It’s something that you have to closely monitor and keep watching on,” Wilson said. “It’s a big surgery, and he did a great job of getting through it, getting to Spring Training, and the slow ramp-up in Spring Training. And now we’re into the season. So it’s just continued monitoring.”
Wilson commented on Donovan’s playing style: “I also think that when you ask guys to be cautious, that’s when they lead to other injuries,” he said. “So you’ve got to be who you are on the field, no question… Donnie plays hard, and that’s what we love about him.”
In Friday’s game before his exit, Donovan made two defensive plays at third base—including turning a double play—and recorded a bunt single before being replaced as Seattle took the field for the fourth inning after conferring with head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson in the dugout.
At bat this season through 18 games, Donovan has posted a .304 batting average with an on-base percentage of .437 and slugging percentage of .518 over 56 at-bats.
