Brendan Donovan's Awkward Leap at First Base Has the Mariners Holding Their Breath

The worst part? Donovan knew better. In the seventh inning of a scoreless game against the Angels, he crushed a hard ground ball just right of second base. It was going to be close. Real close. And instead of doing what every baseball coach screams at you to do, he made a long leap toward the bag, landed awkwardly on his left leg, then braced with his right to keep from eating dirt.

That's when the pain shot through his right groin and up into his hip.

The MRI Came Back Clean, But the Damage Was Done

Donovan admitted he knew the whole "just run through first base" thing. "I know," he said with a sheepish smile. "But I really wanted to get that hit." Oswald Peraza made a nice sliding backhand to knock the ball down, scrambled up, and fired to first. So close. Too close for Donovan to play it safe.

The Mariners were careful about pulling him out. He had groin issues late last season that sent him to the injured list on August 18. After returning September 12, general discomfort lingered. He underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia on October 7, 2025. The medical staff wasn't taking any chances with that surgically repaired area.

The Saturday morning MRI brought some relief: clean results. Manager Dan Wilson still held Donovan out of the starting lineup, giving the nod to Leo Rivas at third instead. But Donovan was out with the team pregame, working through agility drills and light sprinting with strength coach Matt Rutledge. "We wanted to test it out," Donovan said. "It feels good."

The Backup Plan Has Its Own Problems

Here's where it gets worse: the logical fill-in if Donovan lands on the injured list is also hurt. Top prospect Colt Emerson, fresh off signing an 8-year, $95 million contract, fouled a ball off his foot in his first plate appearance of Saturday's doubleheader at Cheney Stadium. The ball caught the top inside part of his foot, a spot not protected by his leg guard. He was in obvious pain, finished the at-bat, then got pulled.

Wilson is calling Donovan "day-to-day" for now. The Mariners didn't have updates on Emerson's status.

That's the thing about early April baseball: one awkward stride can turn a tight game into a roster headache. Let's see how both guys look over the next few days.

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