Donovan Sidelined by Pregame Batting Cage Incident

The Seattle Mariners placed utilityman Brendan Donovan on the seven-day concussion injured list on Sunday, a day after he was hit in the head by a baseball in the batting cages. The move is retroactive to Saturday, meaning Donovan will be sidelined until at least next Saturday.

Donovan was a late scratch from the lineup for Saturday night's 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Manager Dan Wilson said Sunday that Donovan was hit by a pitch while taking swings pregame. The incident occurred about 15 minutes before first pitch, and players under concussion protocols are not permitted to speak with media, per the club's policy.

"It was just one of those situations that's unfortunate," Wilson said. "But he will be back hopefully as soon as possible."

Wilson added that the contact to Donovan's head was from a ball that was thrown, not one coming off the bat, though he was unsure if it came from a live pitcher or a machine. "It got him in a good spot, and obviously, it's a difficult thing and a frustrating thing that these things happen," he said.

How the Situation Unfolded

According to reports from the game, Donovan was scratched from the lineup about five minutes before Kade Anderson threw his first Major League pitch, an unusually late change. Donovan had been in the starting lineup, leading off and playing third base. Weston Wilson replaced him at third base.

The Mariners initially did not disclose the reason, which was noted as not unusual for the club, but by the third inning the team announced he was being evaluated for a possible concussion after being struck in the head in the batting cage. No further details were provided on how the accident happened.

Roster and Injury History

Utilityman Patrick Wisdom was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Donovan on the active roster. Wisdom had hit nine home runs for Tacoma in 17 games. He is expected to see action at third base over the coming days, along with utility infielder Leo Rivas. Weston Wilson made his second consecutive start at third on Sunday, while Randy Arozarena led off for the second straight game.

Donovan's injury extends what manager Dan Wilson described as a difficult season. The Mariners acquired Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in February in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, but he has struggled to stay on the field. He missed time from April 18 to May 7 with a strained left groin, then was placed on the 10-day injured list again on May 17 with a left groin muscle strain. Donovan was on the shelf until he returned on Aug. 4. The groin issue has required two stints on the injured list, which Donovan has said was related to major offseason sports hernia surgery.

The 29-year-old was a first-time All-Star last year with St. Louis, batting .287 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 118 games. This season for Seattle, he has played in 39 games, with a .277 average, three home runs, and 15 RBI. Wilson expressed confidence in his return: "I'm sure it's frustrating. It's tough, no question. But I think the thing we know about is that he's a gamer, he's a fighter. And he will get through this as quickly as possible."

Pitching Update

Sunday also brought a swing of injury news for the Mariners' pitching staff. Bryan Woo threw off a mound for the first time since his start last Sunday ended early due to discomfort in his pitching shoulder. He described the session as mixing all pitches with higher intensity.

"It wasn't one of those things that I felt like my season was in jeopardy, or something like that," Woo said. The club doesn't expect him to need the injured list. After finalizing the bullpen, the Mariners will slot their rotation for the upcoming series against the Phillies, with Logan Gilbert slated for Monday and George Kirby on Tuesday.

Other pitching: Matt Brash, recovering from a right lat strain, threw a bullpen Friday, and Cooper Criswell began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. Meanwhile, J.P. Crawford, who missed two games after being hit on the wrist by a 95.6 mph fastball on Friday, had X-rays negative and is considered day-to-day.