Why the Mariners’ Latest Acquisition Might Be Your New Favorite Player
"He shows up every day looking to get better and make his teammates better. He’s a guy you know will have your back no matter what."
The title of this article may be a bit hyperbolic, but let me explain myself. On a team with homegrown superstars who have magnetic personalities and incredible nicknames like “Big Dumper” and “J-Rod,” it would be quite the task to get fans to pivot from their favorite player.
However, when the Mariners brought back fan favorite Eugenio Suárez at the deadline, he was quickly upstaged by Josh Naylor—a player the clubhouse and fanbase fell in love with to such a degree that the front office had no choice but to bring him back. It certainly helped that he fit what the team needed skillset-wise perfectly, but it’s clear the Mariners are prioritizing clubhouse fit and leadership to a large extent when acquiring talent for this roster.
Their first—and only—significant outside free agent addition was described to me as “one of my favorite people in baseball” and “the best clubhouse guy around” by someone who has worked with him before. Rob Refsnyder even received a goodbye post from his former manager, Alex Cora—something that isn’t given to every player. His impact in the clubhouse has been repeated again and again, which means a lot, especially for a weak-side platoon bat.
Seattle’s newest trade acquisition isn’t likely to surpass the impact of Cal Raleigh on the clubhouse and fanbase, or outshine the burning star of charisma that is Julio Rodríguez. He isn’t likely to endear himself to fans at the level Josh Naylor did, or possess the flare of Randy Arozarena. However, Brendan Donovan is going to endear himself to his teammates and fans extremely quickly.
Donovan is was the most obvious perfect fit on the field for the Mariners. The team desperately needed a leadoff hitter to lengthen the lineup, putting Randy Arozarena back in a position to drive in runs. He is almost certainly going to see pitches to hit frequently while batting ahead of Cal and Julio, with a chance to match his career on-base percentage of .361.
The 29-year-old super-utility man will grind out an at-bat with the best of them, striking out at just a 13 percent clip last season while spraying line drives to all fields. While he isn’t a burner, Donovan runs the bases well. Even last season, he added baserunning value in the 66th percentile, all while dealing with a painful turf toe injury that led to a groin issue. He plays hurt, and he plays everywhere.
There is something special about a player who can play all over the diamond, which is another reason Seattle coveted him so highly. The ability to fill in wherever he’s needed is why fans loved Dylan Moore in Seattle, and as someone who exclusively played center field for most of my life, being able to play average-to-above-average defense across the diamond is extremely impressive. No matter what glove he has on that day, Donovan seems to be the model of offensive consistency, with a career 119 wRC+.
Donovan’s play style endears him to fans and teammates alike. His leadership and presence in the clubhouse were no doubt a huge part of Seattle’s interest in him. Here’s a quote from a player who shared a clubhouse with Donovan for the past few seasons:
“Mariners fans are getting a hardworking player who leads by example. He shows up every day looking to get better and make his teammates better. He’s a guy you know will have your back no matter what.
On the field, he doesn’t really seem to have any weaknesses. He plays every position at a high level and plays harder than almost everyone else out there. He’s a great player, and I think Mariners fans will really enjoy having him.”
