Career Timeline of Brendan Donovan: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Brendan Donovan, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Brendan Donovan is an American professional baseball utility player currently playing for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the St. Louis Cardinals. His primary role is as a versatile player, capable of playing multiple positions on the field.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2015: High School Baseball Success

In 2015, as a senior at Enterprise High School, Donovan batted .467 with four home runs, 44 RBIs, 17 doubles, and six triples.

2017: Collegiate Summer Baseball

In 2017, Donovan played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

2018: Signed and Made Professional Debut

In 2018, after being drafted, Donovan signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and made his professional debut with the State College Spikes.

2018: Junior Year Stats

In 2018, during his junior year at the University of South Alabama, Donovan batted .302 with five home runs and 55 RBIs over 57 games.

2018: Drafted by the Cardinals

In 2018, the Cardinals selected Brendan Donovan in the seventh round of the MLB draft, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career.

2019: Minor League Season

In 2019, Brendan Donovan spent most of the season with the Peoria Chiefs and played one game with the Memphis Redbirds, batting .268 with eight home runs and 53 RBI over 114 games.

November 19, 2021: Added to 40-Man Roster

On November 19, 2021, the Cardinals added Donovan to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

April 25, 2022: MLB Promotion and Debut

On April 25, 2022, Donovan was promoted to the major leagues and made his MLB debut that night against the New York Mets as a pinch runner, scoring on a single by Tyler O'Neill.

2022: MLB Debut

In 2022, Brendan Donovan made his MLB debut for the St. Louis Cardinals and became a consistent member of their lineup as a utility player.

2022: Returns to Memphis

In 2022, Brendan Donovan returned to Memphis to begin the season.

2023: World Baseball Classic Qualification

In 2023, Donovan, born in Germany, represented the Germany national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic qualification.

2024: Performance and Arbitration Case

In 2024, Donovan batted .278/.342/.417 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI in 153 games. He lost his salary arbitration case with the Cardinals, where he filed at $3.3 million and the Cardinals offered $2.85 million.

2025: All-Star Game Appearance and Surgery

In 2025, Donovan made his first career appearance in the MLB All-Star Game, going 2-for-3 with two singles. He also underwent surgery on October 7 to repair a sports hernia.

February 2, 2026: Traded to Seattle Mariners

On February 2, 2026, the Cardinals traded Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team trade where the Cardinals received Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete, Colton Ledbetter, and two Competitive Balance Round B picks in the 2026 MLB draft.