SEATTLE MARINERS
Mariners GM Justin Hollander provided the latest on Brendan Donovan and three relievers who are recovering on the IL.
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Seattle Mariners general manager Justin Hollander provided updates before Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels on four players currently on the injured list who are expected to return this season.
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Here’s what Hollander said about All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan and a trio of right-handed relief pitchers: Matt Brash, Cooper Criswell and Carlos Vargas.
The Mariners are still avoiding putting a timeline on when their key offseason trade acquisition could start a minor league rehab assignment, but Brendan Donovan is clearly trending in the right direction.
“Brendan had a really good week last week. I think last week was a big, positive momentum builder just in terms of more good days than bad days, ramping things up,” Hollander said. “He was able to go through a full (batting) cage routine. (I) saw some video of him running the bases… I’m probably not the best judge of how high the effort level was, but it was certainly more than just jogging.”
Donovan has been out of action since mid-May with a left groin strain. While he played well in 25 games in the opening months of the season, he began feeling hip and groin discomfort after jamming up against the wall making a play in foul territory while serving as Seattle’s third baseman on March 28 and had a previous three-week stint on the 10-day IL in April and May. Donovan’s injuries are complicated from offseason sports hernia surgery, which he said he was told could take eight months to a year to feel fully recovered from.
Hollander said the nature of Donovan’s injury is “not conducive” to making an estimate on when a rehab assignment could start. He also noted Donovan, who is known for his shaggy locks, was with the M’s on Monday for the opening contest of their six-game homestand – and sporting a new look.
“Let’s just see where we’re at at the end of this homestand. He’s obviously here and barely recognizable with a haircut,” Hollander said. “I think last week was a really good week for him. I was really encouraged, and I think our training staff was as well.”
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The lefty-swinging Donovan has a slash line of .274/.386/.452 for an .839 OPS with three home runs for Seattle, having served mainly as the starting third baseman and the leadoff hitter, the latter mainly against right-handed starting pitchers.
Matt Brash, who is out with right lat inflammation, and Cooper Criswell, who has a right pec strain, are “kind of tracking together” in their recoveries, Hollander said. Both are scheduled to have follow-up MRI examinations on July 6, at which time the Mariners will reassess their progress.
“I would anticipate August as a reasonable time frame (for Brash and Criswell’s returns), and probably closer to the middle or the end than the beginning depending on how long they’re down,” Hollander said. “… We’ll have more info next week on that when we have a better feel for how their scans look.”
Brash, who is on the 15-day IL for the second time this season with the same injury, has a 0.54 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 15 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings in 20 appearances.
Criswell, who is in his first season with the Mariners, has a 3.52 ERA in 30 2/3 innings over 26 appearances.
The update on Carlos Vargas, who has not pitched this season due to a right lat strain, was minimal. He continues to be on a throwing program, which he started before Hollander’s previous media availability on June 16, but there’s “no real change,” Hollander said.
Vargas had a 3.95 ERA in 77 innings over 70 appearances last season with the Mariners.
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Brent Stecker is Lead Editor of SeattleSports.com, a role he has held since 2017. A native of Ephrata, Wash., he joined the Seattle Sports and MyNorthwest.com team in 2013 after six years as a sports reporter for The Wenatchee World.
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