While Seattle Mariners fans have heard Brendan Donovan’s name throughout the offseason, not much was known about the player who has spent his entire career in the National League with the Cardinals aside from what could be read on his Baseball Reference page.

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Tuesday night, however we got a snapshot on The Hot Stove from new Mariners backup catcher Andrew Knizner, who played alongside Donovan in 2022 and 2023 in St. Louis.

“Donovan’s a guy that has unmatched work ethic,” Knizner said. “His commitment to preparation is one of the best I’ve seen. It’s a guy that just puts his head down and just goes after it day in and day out. I think that’s something that the Mariners fans and obviously the guys on the team will really respect and love about him is just he’s a grinder.

“He’s a great player, obviously. He can play anywhere on the field at above-average, plus defender. He obviously can swing it with the best of them. But his thing is he just goes about it so well day in and day out that it’s – that’s tough to do over 162 games, and he’s a guy that can do it.”

Those have in Mariners camp have likely already seen it as Donovan wasted no time getting to Peoria, arriving Monday evening from Florida a week before the day position players are scheduled to report.

“I feel like I try to lead by example,” Donovan told the media in Peoria Wednesday morning. “Just kind of be here and just try to earn some respect from the guys. Just kind of how I work.”

While not having crossed paths with many of his new teammates prior, Donovan is getting a crash course in Mariners culture. Not wanting to make an initial misstep in the new clubhouse, he asked around about rules or things he needed to be aware of. The answer was simple: “We’re going to prepare and we’re going to be great people,” he was told. That response coupled with what he saw in his first day excited him.

“When you have a group of guys that hold themselves to a higher standard, and there’s that aspect of accountability and preparation and guys that genuinely care, and there is a talk of winning a World Series in the building, you don’t really need that, right?” he said. “I mean, you look at Cal (Raleigh) is the first one in the door and I think he’s the last one here. And I saw that yesterday. I was like, wow, he’s here early. And then I think I left and I’m like, wow, he’s still here. So, I mean, it’s just a testament to him and why he’s able to set the foundation for this culture.”

“I just try to play like my hair is on fire.”

Brendan Donovan’s a gamer. pic.twitter.com/byi0SOFnb2

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 11, 2026

While he may have been beat to the complex by the catcher, it became apparent quickly in Donovan’s talk with the media that he should have something else in common with Raleigh.

“I think the thing about me is I believe in preparation,” he said. “I try to be the most prepared player on the field. I think that may come with just kind of being able to play all over the field, kind of be the most prepared. And I play really hard. I think that’s something that your effort, your mentality, all that, those are things that you can control in this crazy game.”

It’s a mentality that was noticed in and out of the clubhouse with Donovan’s all-out, hair-on-fire style of play – one of the aspects of his game that made him a fan favorite in St. Louis. Now he looks forward to being a part of a team he believes is equipped to go far.

“It was always tough, especially facing the staff and just the way that they play the game,” Donovan said of facing the Mariners. “You just look at the pitching staff and then if you put the ball in play, you’re pretty much out. That was frustrating from the opposing side, so I’m excited to be playing behind them, not against them.”

The new guy is here 👋

Welcome, Brendan! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/Wr3obyPUyb

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 10, 2026

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