Donovan set to return Tuesday as Crawford lands on IL
Brendan Donovan is cleared to rejoin the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday after a left groin strain, while J.P. Crawford heads to the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation. The swap could reshape how the Mariners score as they chase more offense during a pivotal stretch. General manager Justin Hollander confirmed the medical clearance before Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, per MLB.com.
Key Takeaways
- Donovan is medically cleared but will likely return Tuesday after welcoming his second child with his family.
- Crawford was placed on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation; Leo Rivas was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
- Seattle’s offense has averaged just 4.0 runs per game this season, third lowest in MLB.
- Analyst Ryan Rowland-Smith called Donovan’s return a “huge boost” for the club’s lineup.
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When will Brendan Donovan return to the Mariners?
Hollander said Donovan “feels good and ready to go,” and once family matters are settled he will join the club, “likely on Tuesday.” Donovan posted Friday that his wife had given birth to their second child, so he probably will not be back until after Monday’s Trade Deadline.
This is Donovan’s second injured-list stay for a left groin strain, which he has linked to major sports hernia surgery he had last October while with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played 10 rehab games across the ACL Mariners, High-A Everett, and Triple-A Tacoma, finishing on a four-game hitting streak after starting 0-for-21.
Hollander said timing was off early in the rehab, but Donovan “really got locked in the last three or four days.” When activated, Seattle plans some days off and designated-hitter turns to ease him back in.
Why did J.P. Crawford land on the injured list?
On Friday, the Mariners placed the veteran infielder on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation and recalled Leo Rivas from Tacoma. Hollander said Crawford will receive an injection, miss three to five days, then begin ramping up, with a return likely in a few weeks.
Crawford had battled wrist pain for much of the prior two weeks, missing four straight games before returning in Arlington and then sitting Thursday at Dodger Stadium. He is hitting .212/.330/.345 (.675 OPS) this season and has primarily played third base since mid-June.
How could Donovan change how the Mariners score?
Seattle could use the All-Star form Donovan showed in 2025. The Mariners have scuffled offensively, averaging 4.0 runs per game with a .688 OPS—third and fourth lowest in MLB, respectively. Crawford’s absence should open a chunk of third-base reps for Donovan immediately.
When activated, Donovan is expected to fill a utility role covering corner outfield, second base, and third base—the position he played exclusively over the 25 games he was healthy. Former MLB pitcher and Mariners analyst Ryan Rowland-Smith said the return would be “a huge boost to the offense,” arguing Donovan’s contact-oriented approach can help him make an impact sooner than a pure power hitter trying to find timing.
Rowland-Smith also framed the activation as timely ahead of the deadline, noting in-house production can help a club argue for going “all in.” For fans tracking every Mariners score update and roster move, Donovan’s Tuesday target is the clearest near-term boost Seattle has signaled.