Mariners place Brendan Donovan on 10-day IL, add Will Wilson

The Seattle Mariners are dealing with another roster shakeup. They just placed third baseman Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain, retroactive to Saturday.

Donovan’s groin issues aren’t exactly new. Manager Dan Wilson hinted that they might be related to Donovan’s sports hernia surgery from October 7, so the team’s watching him closely as they juggle infield depth and try to keep their offense afloat.

Injury details and timeline

Donovan left Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Texas Rangers with a left hip problem. He’s also been dealing with right groin discomfort for about two weeks now.

The groin trouble really makes you wonder about his durability, especially after last fall’s surgery. Now that he’s on the IL, Donovan will need time off while the Mariners figure out if he can come back without risking a bigger setback.

Donovan’s on-field impact and the trade-backstory

This year, Brendan Donovan came out swinging—batting .304 with three home runs, eight RBIs, and nine walks in 18 games. He’s shown he can help almost anywhere in the lineup.

Seattle picked up Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in a February three-team trade that included the Rays. They really wanted more infield depth and a left-handed bat. Now, with this injury slowing him down, the team’s hoping Donovan can bounce back soon. But honestly, who knows?

Will Wilson called up to fill the roster

With Donovan out, Seattle called up Will Wilson from Triple-A Tacoma. Wilson, 27, was a first-round pick back in 2019 and debuted in the majors with the Cleveland Guardians last year.

In 34 games for Cleveland, Wilson hit .192 with four doubles, two RBIs, and two steals. This season in Tacoma, he’s batting .275 over 14 games with one homer and four RBIs. Maybe he’ll give the Mariners a little spark while they see if he’s ready for a longer stay.

Miles Mastrobuoni lands on the 60-day IL

Seattle also moved utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni to the 60-day injured list after he hurt his calf playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Mastrobuoni started the year on the 10-day IL.

Last year, he hit .250 with one homer and 12 RBIs in 152 at-bats as a part-timer. The move tightens up Seattle’s infield, but it could open the door for some younger guys to step up in the meantime.

Implications for the Mariners’ lineup and long-term plan

With Donovan out, Seattle faces a mess of infield questions—flexibility, lineup balance, and the timing of Donovan’s return. The Texas Rangers series just hammered home how much they need reliable bench depth, especially with early-season injuries popping up left and right.

• How long can Will Wilson really hold down a spot off the bench, or maybe even slide into a bigger platoon role at the corners?
• Will Seattle start digging deeper into the minors, or maybe try to snag another veteran via waivers or a last-minute trade?
• How quickly can Donovan ramp up again without his groin or hip flaring up?

Seattle’s medical staff has their work cut out for them, juggling Donovan’s injury history and the pressure to get him back on the field. If Donovan returns fast and actually holds up, the Mariners would probably slip him right back into a lineup that’s still chasing its groove. Will Wilson’s promotion, meanwhile, gives the team a real-time look at how much in-game impact and roster flexibility he can actually offer. It’s a season that’s already demanding depth, and maybe a little luck, too.

 
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