Mariners welcome back Brendan Donovan into lineup after injury | Notebook

CHICAGO - Brendan Donovan knows there will be a day when he makes a random movement he's made thousands of times that won't trigger unexpected pain.

But for now, the Mariners leadoff hitter will just have to deal with the residual effects of his offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia.

On Friday, the Mariners reinstated Donovan from the injured list and optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma.

Donovan was inserted back into the lineup at third base and at the leadoff spot in the batting order for Friday's series opener against the White Sox in Chicago.

Great to have him back and ready to go," manager Dan Wilson said pregame. "Seeing him at the top of the lineup, exciting to get that back in play."

Donovan was supposed to play in two rehab games with Double-A Arkansas - the first one at designated hitter and the second game at third base. He went 1-for 3 with a double and two walks on Tuesday. However, rain on Wednesday in Little Rock forced the game to be postponed and Donovan never got that opportunity.

"I was able to run the bases," he said. "I was hoping to play (in the) field but the weather got kind of nasty in Arkansas. But for me, it's just getting out there, just playing in a game, competing, getting in positions that are kind of hard to mimic in practice. I felt good and my leg felt good, and I was able to compete. The quality of the at-bat was there. But there's just no way to really mimic games besides playing games."

Donovan didn't enjoy being stuck on the IL.

"It kind of sucks just watching games on TV when they're on the road and sitting on bench at home," Donovan said. "But it's been good I've worked with the training staff and I've learned a lot. I'm still learning a lot about my recovery and things that I can do to keep my hips healthy after my surgery. So while it sucks, I think you can find a silver lining in anything like this."

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One thing Donovan has learned is that being cleared to play doesn't mean he won't feel the residual effects from the surgery. The recovery to feeling normal can take a while.

"I've heard anywhere from like, eight months to a year is when you're like, 'we're good,'" he said. "They say that you can return to play in six to 10 weeks. And I was able to do that, but they said you could have some hiccups for years, just like this. It's just an invasive procedure. Everything around your pelvis, they're cutting through, muscles, nerves, scar tissue, all those things. Ultimately, I needed it. After you start pulling things off your pelvis, you kind of have to get all cinched back down. But we're just all kind of learning how to work together."

Donovan has also learned that he needs to exercise a bit of "load management." But it won't be like where an NBA player sits out for a game. He has to readjust some pregame work and not log as many hours and reps as before. He's looking for quality over quantity.

The Mariners will try to be cognizant of ways to keep him in the lineup.

"Obviously to start here, you've got to monitor how he's coming out of it, and maybe take it a little slow here in the beginning just to make sure he's in a good spot," Wilson said. "We don't want to push him too much but once we get into it and get rolling, I think we just have to be really smart. Communication will have to be huge in making sure he remains in a good spot."

Raleigh returns behind the plate

Cal Raleigh got the start at catcher for the first time in a week. He missed three games after being scratched from the lineup last Saturday due to tightness in his right side. He returned to the lineup Tuesday as the designated hitter for the final two games of the previous series.

"Particularly in this series, we're going to have to be mindful of where he's at and make sure that we're doing the right things with him, not giving him too much too soon," Wilson said.

Raleigh said he's feeling much better and took on-field batting practice before the game.

Mum on Miller

Bryce Miller flew to Chicago on Thursday to join the Mariners for the road trip after making his fourth, and what seems like his final, rehab start Wednesday night in Everett.

He was expected to meet with the team's medical staff Friday to see if he can be cleared.

Per sources, the Mariners are expected to activate Miller from the IL at some point during the four-game series in Houston next week. But Wilson wouldn't offer up any details or indication how they would add a healthy starter to a rotation filled with healthy starters.

"It's great to see him and it's a chance to check in with him again and see how he's doing," Wilson said. "Hopefully in the next day or so, we'll have somewhat of an indication of how we're gonna move forward.

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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM.