Brendan Donovan Is Learning Third Base the Hard Way, and He's Not Happy About It

The ball found Brendan Donovan early and often when the Mariners' season started, and not in the way he hoped. The new third baseman came to Seattle with limited big league experience at the hot corner, just 36 games under his belt before the trade, mostly back in 2022. He put in the work in camp. He hit the plyo wall for arm strength. He played every spring game the team allowed. But nothing quite prepares you for live bullets in April, and Donovan is learning that lesson the hard way.

When the Ball Found Him, Things Got Messy

In Monday's 3-1 loss to the Rangers, Donovan got a taste of the growing pains ahead. A slow-rolling grounder off the bat of Danny Jansen in the fifth inning should have been routine. Instead, the turf at the edge of the infield had other plans. "I got stuck," Donovan said after the game, frustration dripping from every word. "It kind of retreated me, I tried to plant on my foot and I think it got stuck in the turf, and I just had nothing (on the throw)." That one play was just a symptom of a bigger issue: he wasn't comfortable yet, and it showed.

The Standard He Set for Himself

Here's what stands out about Donovan: he's not making excuses. He knows he should be making these plays. The team is counting on him to make these plays. "It's not something you can run from," he said. "It's kind of one of those things (where) you have just got to keep preparing (while) understanding I am not playing to the standard that I set for myself defensively and that I have done the last few years. So that's frustrating, but my biggest thing is I just want to help the team, and I don't feel I am doing a very good job with that over there."

There are no shortcuts in baseball. Game experience is everything, and Donovan knows the only way through is more preparation. Live off the bat. Flipping fungos. Getting his reps in. "I am already thinking about what I want to do when we get back," he said. The growing pains are real, but so is his commitment to working through them.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.