Brendan Donovan's absence has only proved his essential value to Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have had Brendan Donovan for only 25 games this year, and none since May 15. It's one of the more overlooked causes of how the 2026 season has turned into a slog, and nowhere has his absence been felt more than in the leadoff spot.

Yes, the leadoff problem is back. It's more subtle than it was in 2025, when nobody could find any footing in the No. 1 spot for Dan Wilson. Mariners leadoff hitters have a .335 OBP which, while not good, is good enough to rank in the top half of MLB.

Yet even now, Donovan's contributions to the leadoff spot remain its center of gravity:

• Brendan Donovan at Leadoff: .400 OBP
• Everyone Else at Leadoff: .317 OBP

If that latter mark was isolated as its own thing, it would rank in the bottom 10 of MLB. And the difference can be felt in Seattle's offensive output. In 19 games with Donovan in the leadoff spot, they averaged 4.21 runs per game. In the other 68 games, they've scored 4.06 runs per game.

Even a subtle difference like that underscores why the Mariners were delighted to have Donovan as their new leadoff hitter when they got him in February. And he certainly looked the part, as his excellent work at leadoff was fueled by a nearly even mix of walks (9) and strikeouts (11).

Mariners might have to take away at-bats from someone else to get them for Brendan Donovan

The good news is that Donovan is making progress on the comeback trail from a left groin strain. As Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported on Tuesday, the 29-year-old has been running and taking grounders, and is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week. He should be back after the All-Star break.

As has been apparent for a while now, Donovan won't return to an everyday role at third base. Jude's report mentions that he's going back to his super-utility roots, with action at third base, second base and both left field and right field. Presumably, DH will also be in play.

Alas, there's only so much playing time to go around in those spots. Donovan can spell J.P. Crawford at third and Cole Young at second as needed, but both are everyday players. So is Randy Arozarena in left, which pretty much leaves right field as his best spot for a regular gig.

This is predicated on the notion that Luke Raley should lose playing time, but that's no longer a hot take. He and Dominic Canzone (who primarily DHs) are both banged at the moment, and Raley has other red flags. After hitting .328 with eight homers in May, he hit .125 with one homer in June. And whereas Canzone has a 131 wRC+ in left-on-left matchups since the start of last season, Raley's is 1. Yes, one.

As always, having more good players than there is action to go around is a good problem to have in theory. But like the piggyback thing has been for the rotation, you just hope that the Mariners' post-IL plan for Donovan doesn't turn into an ongoing drama.

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