It’s a sequence Seattle Mariners fans hope to see a lot this season: Leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan getting on base and Cal Raleigh going deep.
In Donovan’s Cactus League debut for the Mariners on Tuesday, that’s exactly what transpired.
What we learned from new M’s leadoff man Brendan Donovan
Donovan singled in each of his first two at-bats in Mariners uniform, lining a leadoff base hit to right field in the first inning and then getting another to center field to start the bottom of the third.
Brendan Donovan checks in with a hit in his first spring at-bat 🙌 pic.twitter.com/MsorQsz18b
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 24, 2026
Immediately after Donovan’s second hit, Raleigh launched a first-pitch changeup from Chicago White Sox right-hander Wikelman González over the center-field fence at Peoria Stadium for a two-run homer that traveled 427 feet. It was Raleigh’s first home run of the spring after his record-setting 60-homer campaign last year.
The Mariners acquired the 25-year-old Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team trade earlier this month.
Donovan was a first-time All-Star with St. Louis last season, slashing .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 32 doubles and a .775 OPS in 118 games. Among qualified National League hitters, he ranked ninth in batting average and 17th in on-base percentage. He also won a Gold Glove Award as utility player in 2022.
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