The Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder Brendan Donovan from the 10-day injured list on Friday, as he has fully recovered from a left groin strain.
Donovan previously landed on the IL with a similar left groin strain while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals last August, missing nearly a month. He underwent sports hernia surgery in October 2025. Both Donovan and Mariners manager Dan Wilson have noted that the current groin issue requires careful management and is likely linked to that surgery.
During a one-game rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Arkansas on Tuesday, Donovan went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks.
In a corresponding roster move, Seattle optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma.
Apr 12, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan (33) runs towards home plate to score a run against the Houston Astros during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Donovan had been sidelined since April 20. In 18 games this season — his first with the Mariners after being acquired from the Cardinals in a three-team offseason trade — he is batting .304 with three home runs and eight RBIs. Two of those homers have been leadoff shots, including the first leadoff home run on Opening Day in Mariners history on March 26 against the Cleveland Guardians.
The versatile 29-year-old earned an All-Star selection last season primarily as a second baseman. During his four-year stint with the Cardinals, he appeared at every position except pitcher, catcher, and center field, posting a slash line of .283/.364/.414. He also won a Gold Glove for his defensive versatility in his rookie year, 2022.
St. Louis selected Donovan in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Over 510 regular-season games, he owns a career .283 batting average with 43 homers and 210 RBIs.
Pereda, who was called up last Saturday when infielder Will Wilson was placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured left thumb, appeared in just two games. The 30-year-old catcher has a career .241 average with eight RBIs in 48 MLB games across stints with the Miami Marlins (2024), Athletics (2025), and Minnesota Twins (2025).
Pereda gained brief notoriety on May 15, 2025, when he pitched the eighth inning of the Athletics’ 19-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and struck out Shohei Ohtani, who had already hit two home runs earlier in that contest.
