Brendan Donovan Injury News & Updates

Donovan (elbow) has begun a throwing program at the Cardinals' spring training complex in Florida, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Donovan is coming along in his rehab after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in August. The expectation is that he will be ready to roll once spring training arrives. Donovan is expected to be a regular again for the Cardinals in 2024, although it might not necessarily be at a set position.

The Cardinals transferred Donovan (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair the flexor strain in his right elbow, so a move to the 60-day IL was expected. His spot on the 40-man roster will be filled by Ryan Helsley (forearm), who came off the 60-day injured list Friday.

The Cardinals placed Donovan on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow strain.

Donovan will require season-ending surgery to repair the flexor strain in his right arm, so it's hardly surprising to see him placed on the injured list. Tommy Edman (wrist) was reinstated from the IL in a corresponding move.

Donovan will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair the flexor strain in his right arm, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Donovan hasn't been able to play the field since late June because of the lingering flexor strain, and the out-of-contention Cardinals will go ahead and address the issue now rather than waiting until the offseason. The 26-year-old super-utilityman is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training in 2024. He finishes the 2023 campaign with a .281/.362/.419 batting line across 371 plate appearances.

Donovan is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Twins.

Donovan still can't throw due to a flexor strain and Jordan Walker is taking a turn as the Cardinals' designated hitter Tuesday against Minnesota. Taylor Motter will play second base with Nolan Gorman (back) also still sidelined.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan will continue to see regular rest days while limited to DH duties due to flexor strain, and he'll sit Sunday for the second time in the past three games. Paul Goldschimdt will rest his legs at designated hitter while Alec Burleson starts at first base.

Donovan isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Friday against the Cubs, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

After going 0-for-5 at the plate Thursday, Donovan will take a seat for the beginning of Friday's contest. Willson Contreras will take over as the Cardinals' designated hitter, allowing Andrew Knizner to start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Donovan went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Monday's 10-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

After being out of the lineup from Thursday to Saturday, Donovan has checked back in for each of the last two games. While his persistent flexor strain continues to limit him to designated hitter, he could find himself out of the lineup when other players need to rest their legs. Donovan has gone 10-for-32 (.313) since the All-Star break, and he has a .287/.371/.430 slash line with 11 home runs, 34 RBI, 44 runs scored and four stolen bases over 90 contests this season.

Donovan remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Donovan hasn't taken the field since late June while dealing with a flexor strain, but he's made 10 starts as a designated hitter since then, with his 1.042 OPS indicating that the issue seemingly only affects his ability to throw, not hit. He's nonetheless been stuck on the bench for three straight days, first due to a doctor's visit and then due to a pair of matchups against southpaws. (Righty Michael Fulmer will be the first pitcher on the mound for Chicago on Saturday, but lefty Drew Smyly is expected to handle the bulk innings.) Nolan Arenado will fill the DH spot, with Jose Fermin starting at the hot corner.

Donovan's (arm) return to playing the field remains unclear following a visit with an arm specialist in Dallas on Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan has been limited to designated hitter duty for the entirety of July because of a right flexor strain. He'll be shut down from throwing for at least another two weeks and it's not clear when, or if, he'll be allowed to play defense again this season. "I don't have a direction we want to go yet," Donovan said. "We're just kind of figuring out the direction he wants us to go." Donovan didn't play Thursday while traveling for his doctor's visit and isn't starting Friday versus a lefty but should be able to DH sometime over the weekend.

Donovan is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Cubs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Donovan will take a seat as the Cardinals face off with southpaw Justine Steele on Friday. Jose Fermin will draw the start at second base and bat ninth as St. Louis attempts to extend their win streak to seven straight.

Donovan will be shut down from throwing for at least another two weeks due to renewed arm irritation, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan had been aiming to return to his usual super-utility role shortly after the All-Star break, but his arm did not respond well to a recent throwing program and he'll continue to be limited to DH and pinch-hitting duties. He is out of the Cardinals' starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Cubs but should be back in the designated hitter role Friday.

Donovan is not in the lineup Thursday against the Cubs.

Donovan continues to be limited to DH duties because of arm fatigue, and the Cardinals will roll with Paul Goldschmidt in that spot Thursday as Alec Burleson handles first base. Donovan is expected to be able to return to the field sometime early next week.

Donovan went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Donovan tied the game at 1-1 with his sixth-inning solo shot. The utility man is still about a week away from returning to the field while battling an arm injury. It's had little impact on his hitting -- Donovan has gone 15-for-41 (.366) with three homers and 10 RBI over 11 contests in July. He's up to a .285/.372/.433 slash line with 11 homers, 34 RBI, 41 runs scored and four stolen bases through 85 games. Donovan should remain as the designated hitter until he returns to the field.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Donovan (arm) is still about a week away from being cleared to play the field, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan resumed some throwing drills over the weekend as he works his way back from a right arm issue, but he'll remain limited to designated hitter duty for a while longer. It hasn't affected him at the plate, as the 26-year-old is sporting a 1.047 OPS so far in July.

Donovan will sit Monday against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan will get a breather as St. Louis takes on left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Monday. Willson Contreras will slot in at designated hitter while Ivan Herrera enters the lineup behind the plate and bats seventh in the series opener with Miami.

Donovan went 2-for-8 with a home run, a triple, five RBI and two runs scored across both halves of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Nationals.

Donovan supplied a game-tying homer after play resumed from Friday's suspended contest. In the nightcap, he added a two-run triple in the second inning. The versatile 26-year-old has been hampered by an arm injury lately, which has limited him to designated hitter, but his bat has been too good to come out of the lineup. He's gone 12-for-33 (.364) over nine contests since he was cleared to return as the DH. Donovan is slashing .282/.367/.411 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, 38 runs scored and four stolen bases through 83 games this season.

Donovan played catch on the field with a trainer Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan has been dealing with an arm injury that has limited him to DH since late June. It's unclear how soon Donovan will return to fielding duties, but Saturday is a good sign of progress. Despite his injury, Donovan is slashing .400/.423/.520 through 26 plate appearances in July.

Donovan is dealing with an arm injury that is limiting him to designated hitter duties Friday against the National, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

He is in the midst of a throwing program, and the hope is that he can return to the field soon. There isn't as much of a time crunch for Donovan with Tommy Edman (wrist) and Tyler O'Neill (back) on the injured list, although O'Neill is due back soon.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The 26-year-old has been limited to serving as St. Louis' designated hitter over the past week while dealing with arm pain, though he's still found plenty of success at the plate with a 1.004 OPS in his last eight contests. Donovan is scheduled to start a throwing program during the All-Star break, per Jones, though it'll likely be at least a couple more weeks before he's potentially cleared to play in the field.

Donovoan went 3-for-5 in Friday's 8-7 loss to the White Sox.

Donovan has a trio of three-hit efforts over his first five games in July. He remains stuck at designated hitter due to a no-throw program to mitigate his arm soreness. His bat's been too hot to keep out of the lineup despite the minor injury. Donovan owns a strong .289/.375/.415 slash line with nine home runs, 26 RBI, 37 runs scored and four stolen bases over 79 contests.

Donovan went 3-for-5 in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Marlins.

Donovan racked up three singles while serving as the designated hitter, as arm soreness will prevent him from playing the field until after the All-Star break. The 26-year-old's hitting hasn't been negatively impacted -- he's 10-for-18 over his last five games. His defensive versatility usually helps to keep him in the lineup, so it's unclear how often he'll be in the lineup over the next four days before the break. He's slashing a steady .288/.378/.419 through 77 contests this season.

Donovan (arm) is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter and batting leadoff Wednesday versus the Marlins.

Donovan will be on a no-throw program through the All-Star break as he battles through some arm pain, but he's able to swing the bat without issue and will function as the Cardinals' tablesetter Wednesday in Miami. Nolan Gorman is covering second base and batting sixth.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Tuesday that Donovan will be on a no-throw program through the All-Star break due to arm pain, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan is out of the Cardinals' lineup for a second straight game Tuesday against the Marlins and will be limited to DH and pinch-hitting duties when he does play. The hope is that the versatile 26-year-old can get back into the field later this month, maybe even right after the All-Star break. There's no word of any structural damage in his right (throwing) arm.

Donovan is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Miami, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

The Cardinals are facing a left-hander for the second day in a row, but Donovan has now sat out four of the last five contests while dealing with an arm issue. However, there's been no indication to this point that it could be an injured list stint situation.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

Donovan previously sat out both ends of a doubleheader Saturday against the Yankees while battling an arm injury, but he returned to the lineup for Sunday's 5-1 win over New York and went 3-for-4 with a home run. The Cardinals haven't indicated that he suffered a setback during that contest, so the lefty-hitting Donovan's absence from the lineup Monday likely has more to do with the fact that the Marlins are bringing southpaw Braxton Garrett to the hill.

Donovan went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's win over the Yankees.

Donovan returned to the leadoff spot after not appearing in Saturday's doubleheader and picked up right where he left off with his second home run in his last three games. The 26-year-old has cemented himself as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter against righties, and has rightfully earned it, as he's slashing .325/.428/.513 with six homers, 15 RBI, 19 runs and a 15:15 BB:K in his last 32 games after struggling to get going in April and the large majority of May.

Donovan (arm) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter Sunday against the Yankees, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatchreports.

The 26-year-old didn't make an appearance during Saturday's doubleheader while contending with right arm soreness, but he'll return to the lineup for Sunday's series finale. Donovan is coming off a strong June, during which he had a .307/.402/.443 slash line with three doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI and 12 runs in 23 games.

Donovan (arm) remains out for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Donovan was scratched from Friday's lineup with arm soreness --the game was ultimately postponed -- and has missed both games of Saturday's doubleheader. The team announced he wouldn't be able to field a position for a few days, though he was expected to be available to serve as the designated hitter.

Donovan (arm) is on the bench for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan was expected to sit Friday due to arm soreness, though the game wound up getting rained out. He'll be out for at least the afternoon portion of Saturday's twin bill, but his injury only prevents him from throwing, so he could still serve as a designated hitter or pinch hitter at some point in one of the day's two games. Nolan Gorman starts at second base.

Donovan (arm) will not be able to throw for the next few days, but he will be available to hit and serve as a designated hitter, Katie Woo of The Athleticreports.

Donovan was scratched from Friday's lineup due to soreness in his right arm, and the infielder has reportedly been dealing with the issue for a while. Donovan could be back in the starting lineup as the DH for the Cardinals starting Saturday, but fantasy GMs will want to make sure to see if he's back in the lineup.

Donovan was scratched from Friday's lineup due to right arm soreness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan has reportedly been dealing with arm soreness for a while, and it seems to have gotten to a point where he needs to get it checked out. He's scheduled to undergo imaging soon, at which point more details regarding the severity of his injury will be available. For now, fantasy managers should consider Donovan day-to-day.

Donovan was scratched from the Cardinals' lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Yankees.

It's unknown why Donovan was taken out of the Cards' lineup, but more information will likely be available relatively soon. Dylan Carlson will now enter St. Louis' lineup and bat eighth.

Donovan went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-7 loss to the Astros.

Donovan notched his eighth multi-hit game across 22 June appearances, slashing .310/.408/.452 during that stretch. It's been a mixed bag for Donovan thus far, as he was solid to start the year but hit a rough patch in May. It's encouraging to see him back on track in June, and the 26-year-old should continue getting regular looks at second base, even against left-hander starters.

Donovan went 3-for-5 in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.

Donovan tallied three hits for the second time over his last three games, but this was unable to contribute to any of the Cardinals' nine runs on the evening. The 26-year-old continues to make consistent contact at the plate, as he's now slashing .396/.453/.521 in 11 games since June 9. Donovan has made just five starts against lefties coming into Tuesday but was kept in the lineup against lefty Mackenzie Gore and showed off his skillset by picking up two hits against him. For the year, the utilityman is slashing .274/.361/.396 with seven homers, 21 RBI, 33 runs and a 26:39 BB:K over 263 plate appearances.

Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Mets.

Donovan has been seeing the ball well lately, going 15-for-39 (.385) over his last nine games, a span that includes five multi-hit efforts. He continues to be a versatile utility man, capable of filling in all around the diamond while rarely hitting the bench. Donovan's recent surge has him up to a .267/.356/.380 slash line, six home runs, 18 RBI, 32 runs scored and four stolen bases through 66 contests.

Donovan went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the Reds.

Donovan has started June a bit uneven, going 6-for-25 (.240) over his last seven games. The versatile 26-year-old did well atop the order Friday -- he's settled in as the leadoff hitter versus right-handers. Donovan's up to a .251/.344/.369 slash line with six home runs, 16 RBI, 27 runs scored and four stolen bases through 215 plate appearances this season. While the counting starts are not overly impressive, that's mainly been a problem caused by the Cardinals' inconsistent offense.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

The lefty-hitting Donovan will get a breather in the series finale with St. Louis opposing a left-handed starting pitcher (Rich Hill). Donovan had started in each of the Cardinals' last 10 games, slashing .273/.415/.576 with three home runs and two stolen bases. With all of Tyler O'Neill (back), Dylan Carlson (ankle) and Lars Nootbaar (back) on the injured list, Donovan should be a near-everyday player in the corner outfield for the foreseeable future.

Donovan went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Pirates.

He opened the scoring on the night by taking Roansy Contreras deep in the third inning for his sixth homer of the year. Donovan has been holding down an everyday role due to multiple injuries in the Cardinals' outfield, and while he got his June off to a quick start, the grind took its toll in May -- the 26-year-old finished the month with a .228/.358/.354 slash line.

Donovan is starting in left field and batting leadoff Friday in Pittsburgh, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

With Lars Nootbaar (back) landing on the injured list, Donovan could be the Cardinals' regular leadoff man against right-handers for a bit. He's sporting a .253/.344/.370 slash line with five home runs and four stolen bases on the season.

Donovan went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks, two total runs and a stolen base in a 2-1 extra-inning win against Cleveland on Saturday.

St. Louis managed only two hits in the contest, with one of them being Donovan's solo homer in the second inning. The utility man used his legs to notch the team's only other run, swiping third base as the automatic runner in the 10th and coming home to score on a passed ball. Donovan has reached base safely in seven straight games, batting .368 (7-for-19) with two homers, seven runs, two RBI, seven walks and two thefts over that span.

Donovan went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 10-3 loss to the Reds.

He took Ben Lively deep in the fourth inning for his fourth homer of the year, but the Cardinals were already in a 5-0 hole at that point. Donovan remains an everyday player due to all the injuries in the St. Louis outfield, but his .217/.347/.333 slash line in May offers little fantasy appeal.

Donovan went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Reds.

Donovan filled in at first base with Paul Goldschmidt resting his legs as the designated hitter. Prior to Tuesday's multi-hit effort, Donovan had gone 1-for-15 in his last five contests. The utility man is slashing .250/.333/.343 with three home runs, three steals, 11 RBI, 20 runs scored and four doubles through 159 plate appearances. His ability to play all around the diamond has helped him maintain fairly regular playing time despite not having a steady position. Most of Donovan's starts lately have come in the outfield with the Cardinals missing Tyler O'Neill (back) and Dylan Carlson (ankle).

Donovan is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan will get a breather after he went 1-for-14 with two runs scored, two walks and four strikeouts over the Cardinals' four-game series with the Dodgers. Additionally, left-hander Brandon Williamson is on the mound for the Reds, so righty bat Juan Yepez will take over in left field and bat fifth in the series opener with Cincinnati.

Donovan will sit Saturday against the Red Sox, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Chris Sale is the third consecutive lefty the Cardinals have faced, and Donovan has sat against each of them. He's started just once against a southpaw all season and hasn't done so in over a month.

Donovan isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.

Donovan will head to the bench for a second consecutive matchup with southpaw James Paxton starting for the Red Sox on Friday. Juan Yepez is taking over in left field and batting fifth.

Donovan is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Cubs.

Donovan drew a walk and drove in a run Tuesday while also making a couple of excellent plays in left field, but he'll ride the pine Wednesday with left-hander Justin Steele on the mound for Chicago. Juan Yepez is in left and Tommy Edman is covering second base.

Donovan is starting in left field and batting sixth for the Cardinals on Monday versus the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

The trickle-down effect of the Cards' bizarre decision to move Willson Contreras off catcher means Donovan will play a lot more in the outfield while Nolan Gorman handles second base. Although, when Tyler O'Neill (back) returns it will create another logjam.

Donovan went 2-for-3 with a three run homer in Sunday's 12-6 win over the Tigers.

Donovan supplied the what wound up being the game winning-run for the Cardinals after a three-run blast in the sixth put them up over the Tigers 7-6. The long ball was his first since April 2 and his third overall on the year. Donovan his primarily started against righties only this season and may be in and out of the lineup this week with the Cardinals scheduled to face three lefties. For the year, the 26-year-old is slashing .268/.327/.392 with six extra base hits, nine RBI, 13 runs and a 7:20 BB:K over 107 plate appearances.

Donovan is not in the lineup Friday against the Tigers.

Tommy Edman will play second base and bat leadoff with left-hander Matthew Boyd on the mound for Detroit. Paul DeJong is handling shortstop duties and hitting seventh.

Donovan isn't starting Tuesday against the Angels, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

With southpaw Patrick Sandoval slated to start the game for Los Angeles, the left-handed bat of Donovan will take a seat to begin Tuesday's contest. He'll be replaced at second base by Tommy Edman, allowing Paul DeJong to start at shortstop and bat seventh.

Donovan is not in Saturday's lineup against the Dodgers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

With tough southpaw Clayton Kershaw starting for the Dodgers, the Cardinals are going with as many righties as possible to start the game. Paul DeJong is starting at shortstop with Tommy Edman at second base.

Donovan is not in the starting lineup Thursday at San Francisco.

Tommy Edman will play second base and bat ninth with Paul DeJong taking a turn at shortstop and hitting sixth. Donovan has fallen into a bit of a slump but should remain a key piece of the Cardinals' offensive and defensive blueprint.

Donovan is out of the lineup of Sunday's game against the Mariners.

The 26-year-old rejoined the lineup Friday after sitting out a couple days due to an infected abrasion in his lower left leg, but he's out of the starting nine Sunday for the second straight day. It's unclear if the injury is still bothersome for Donovan, or if manager Oliver Marmol is simply prioritizing other matchups this weekend.

Donovan will hit the bench Saturday against Seattle.

Donovan returned from a left shin abrasion Friday but went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, dropping his slash line to a modest .254/.311/.388. He homered twice in the opening series but has yet to clear the fence since. Nolan Gorman will be the second baseman Saturday, with Alec Burleson serving as the designated hitter.

Donovan (shin) is back in the starting lineup Friday at Seattle.

Recovered from a left shin abrasion, Donovan will start at second base and bat leadoff in the Cardinals' series opener versus the Mariners and right-hander George Kirby. The 26-year-old is slashing .270/.329/.413 with two homers and two steals in 17 games this season.

Donovan (shin) came off the bench to play second base for the final two innings of Wednesday's 14-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals already held a 10-run lead heading into the top of the eighth, so manager Oliver Marmol's decision to use Donovan suggests that the team has no real concern about the utility player requiring a stint on the 10-day injured list. Donovan was out of the starting nine for the second straight game due to an abrasion on his left leg that caused a minor infection and some swelling, but he's responded well to antibiotics and rest over the past couple of days, per John Denton of MLB.com. Following a team off day Thursday, expect Donovan to return to the starting nine for Friday's series opener in Seattle.

Donovan (lower leg) is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan will miss a second game in a row Wednesday as he nurses a shin abrasion. Taylor Motter will draw another start, taking over at second base and batting eighth in the series finale with Arizona.

Donovan is considered day-to-day with a left shin abrasion, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

This minor issue is what prompted the Cardinals to scratch Donovan from their starting lineup Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. Nolan Gorman will cover second base and Taylor Motter is in at third.

Donovan was scratched from the Cardinals' lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.

There's no reason yet for the sudden change. Nolan Gorman is now starting at second base and batting fifth, with Taylor Motter entering the lineup at third base and hitting eighth.

Donovan went 3-for-4 with a double, run scored and two steals in Saturday's 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh. He also walked.

Donovan was effective at the top of the lineup for St. Louis in the four-reach game. The steals were the first of the season in a game where the Cardinals swiped four bags against Jason Delay and the Pittsburgh pitching staff. Donovan now owns a four-game hitting streak while picking up knocks in five of his last six contests, and he also didn't strike out for the first time since April 10.

Donovan is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

The Cardinals are going righty-heavy against southpaw Eric Lauer, so Donovan will begin this one on the bench. Taylor Motter gets the start at second base and will hit sixth.

Donovan is not in the Cardinals' starting lineup Tuesday against Atlanta.

St. Louis will go right-heavy in this one with Atlanta throwing left-hander Dylan Dodd. Taylor Motter is playing second base and hitting ninth.

Donovan went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Blue Jays.

Donovan started the game with a bang, depositing Chris Bassitt's first pitch of the game over the wall in right-center field. In the fourth inning, Donovan added a second RBI on a sacrifice fly. He's gone 5-for-14 with two homers, four RBI and five runs scored through three games so far. It appears the versatile 26-year-old will get a chance to be the primary second baseman to begin the year, and he's also hitting leadoff against right-handed pitchers.

Donovan went 3-for-6 with a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Thursday's 10-9 loss to Toronto.

Donovan served as the Cardinals' Opening Day leadoff hitter and did his job setting the table against Alek Manoah and company. He even carried over the newfound pop he showed in spring training -- Donovan smacked four homers in Grapefruit League play, just one fewer than he had in 468 plate appearances in the majors last season. Donovan has a good eye at the plate, and if the power is here to stay, he could end up being a fantasy gem.

Donovan is starting at second base and batting leadoff for Thursday's opener versus the Blue Jays.

Donovan could move to the bottom of the order against lefties, but he looks to be the preferred choice at leadoff versus right-handers. Lars Nootbaar will bat behind Donovan in the two-hole.

Donovan will spent time in the leadoff spot for the Cardinals this season, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Manager Oliver Marmol on Wednesday wouldn't commit to any lineup spots beyond Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras as his 3-4-5 hitters, but it's expected that Donovan, Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman will get looks at the top of the order. It could be Donovan and Nootbaar in the top two spots against right-handers, although Tyler O'Neill also seems to be in the mix for the No. 2 spot. Donovan's on-base skills make him a natural fit at leadoff, and he's shown more pop this spring after re-tooling his stance.

Donovan is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with a team-leading four home runs over 14 Grapefruit League games.

Donovan's value to the Cardinals comes as a utility man, but his spring play should serve to get him an everyday role in the lineup to begin the season. He's the projected starter at second base, especially with Tommy Edman needed at shortstop to cover for the injured Paul DeJong (back). Donovan hit well as a rookie last year, slashing .281/.394/.379 with five home runs, 45 RBI, 64 runs scored and two stolen bases over 126 contests. With his versatility, he should remain in the mix for a starting role even if his hitting drops a bit.

Donovan clubbed a two-run homer and added an RBI single Monday versus the Mets in Grapefruit League action.

It's the second home run in three spring training games for Donovan, who hit just five long balls in 126 contests for the Cardinals in his rookie season. Donovan is standing more upright at the plate this spring and, as manager Oli Marmol noted on Monday's ESPN broadcast, is making more of an effort to pull the ball in the air. He's also switched to a puck-style bat knob. It's worth tracking to see whether Donovan's newfound pop can be sustained while not taking away from his excellent plate skills.

Donovan isn't starting Wednesday against Pittsburgh, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Donovan has recorded hits in each of the last eight games, hitting .310 with two doubles, seven runs, an RBI, five walks and three strikeouts over that stretch. However, Paul DeJong will take over at the keystone and bat ninth during Wednesday's regular-season finale.

Donovan will hit the bench Saturday against the Dodgers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Donovan started against the left-handed Andrew Heaney on Friday but will sit against a different caliber of southpaw in Clayton Kershaw on Saturday. Tommy Edman will slide to second base in his absence, while Paul DeJong starts at shortstop.

Donovan went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and a walk in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Padres.

Donovan went 0-for-9 over his previous three games before lifting a seventh-inning grand slam that gave the Cardinals their margin of victory. He's hit just five home runs this year, but three of them have come in his last 15 contests, a span in which he's added seven RBI and 12 runs scored. The rookie utility man is slashing .279/.390/.377 with 44 RBI, 56 runs scored and two stolen bases through 115 games overall.

Donovan is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Diego, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Donovan is 5-for-37 over his past 11 games and will take a seat for Wednesday's contest. Tommy Edman will shift to second base while Paul DeJong starts at shortstop.

Donovan went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Pirates.

Donovan got the Cardinals on the board in the fifth inning with his solo shot. He's gone 7-for-20 (.350) with two homers and a double in his last five games, but he had endured a 46-game homer drought prior to that stretch. The utility man is up to four long balls with 39 RBI, 49 runs scored, two stolen bases and a .291/.392/.388 slash line through 386 plate appearances. He's hit leadoff in the last three games versus right-handed pitchers, and it appears he's displaced Lars Nootbaar from that role.

Donovan went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Thursday's 11-6 loss to the Nationals.

Donovan did his job as the leadoff man Thursday, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. The effort increased his OBP to .400 on the season, good for fourth in the majors among batters with at least 300 plate appearances. His two runs now bring his total to nine in his last 10 games, as he has thrived hitting in front of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado recently.

Donovan went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Washington.

The rookie got St. Louis on the board with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, his third of the season. The solo shot ends a 143 at-bat stretch without hitting a home run, during which he only had three total extra-base hits. Donovan is still getting on base at a healthy .391 clip on the season, but he may lose playing time here and there if he cannot continue hitting the ball with more authority.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The lefty-hitting Donovan will sit for the third time in five games, this time against a right-handed pitcher (Anibal Sanchez) after his previous two absences came when the opposition brought southpaws to the mound. Donovan still appears to have the edge on a regular spot in the lineup at second base or designated hitter versus right-handed pitching, but he'll give way to the hot-hitting Albert Pujols on Monday.

Donovan will sit Saturday against the Cubs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The Cardinals elected to sit several lefties against southpaw Drew Smyly. Donovan has now been on the bench against 10 of the last 11 lefties the Cardinals have faced.

Donovan will start in right field and bat second in Thursday's game against the Cubs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

He'll stick in the lineup for a fourth consecutive game at his fourth different position, after previously making starts in left field and at both corner-infield spots. Though he no longer has a hold on a full-time role at any position, Donovan's ability to play all over the infield and outfield should allow to continue to see semi-regular work, especially while he's wielding a hot bat. He enters Thursday's contest riding a six-game hitting streak, during which he's scored four times and has driven in four runs.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Donovan went 3-for-12 with a walk and two RBI while starting each of the past three games at different positions, but he'll put a six-game hitting streak on hold while he retreats to the bench for the series finale. Though he no longer has a hold on a full-time role at any position, Donovan's ability to play all over the infield and outfield should allow to continue to see semi-regular work, especially while he's wielding a hot bat.

Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Colorado.

Donovan got the job done Wednesday, notching three hits while batting in the two-hole in front of Goldschmidt and Arenado. This was just his second multi-hit game since the beginning of August, but that can be partially explained by manager Oliver Marmol regularly rotating batters in and out of the lineup recently. Donovan owns a robust .399 OBP over 86 games on the season, but it is unlikely that he will maintain everyday playing time while the Cardinals are flooded with options in the field.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

The versatile rookie's ability to play the corner outfield and all four infield spots gives him multiple pathways to playing time, but Donovan's ongoing slump at the plate seems to have cost him an everyday role. After producing an .584 OPS in his last 12 games dating back to July 8, the lefty-hitting Donovan will take a seat for the third time in four contests, even with a right-hander Keegan Thompson on the hill for Chicago. Paul DeJong and Lars Nootbaar seem to be the main beneficiaries of manager Oliver Marmol choosing to limit Donovan's role of late.

Donovan is not in the lineup for Friday's game at Washington, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan started the past eight games across five different positions, and he'll take a seat after posting a .261/.438/.261 slash line during that stretch. Albert Pujols will serve as the designated hitter while Lars Nootbaar starts in right field.

Donovan went 2-for-3 with three RBI in Friday's 7-3 win over the Reds.

Donovan had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a two-run single in the seventh. This was his second game back in the starting lineup after overcoming an illness, and it was also his first multi-hit effort in July. He's slashing .286/.391/.390 with two home runs, 29 RBI, 28 runs scored, two stolen bases, 14 doubles and a triple in 68 contests, though his hitting has taken a slight downturn recently. The 25-year-old utility man should share second base with Nolan Gorman, though Donovan can also fill in all around the diamond as necessary.

Donovan (illness) is starting at second base and batting eighth Thursday versus the Dodgers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Donovan has been held out since Saturday due to a non-COVID-19 illness, but he'll return to the starting nine for Thursday's series finale. The 25-year-old has struggled through nine games in July, going 5-for-32 with three walks.

Donovan (illness) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Though Donovan rejoined the Cardinals earlier this week, he'll sit out his fifth straight contest while he works to regain conditioning following a bout with a non-COVID-19-related illness. The rookie's continued absence will open up spots in the corner outfield for Corey Dickerson and Lars Nootbaar on Wednesday.

Donovan (illness) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan looks to be making progress in his recovery from a non-COVID-19-related illness after he rejoined the team Monday, but he'll be out of the starting nine for the fourth game in a row while he works to regain conditioning. The Cardinals will deploy Corey Dickerson and Juan Yepez as their corner outfielders while Donovan is on the bench.

Donovan (illness) isn't starting Monday's game against the Phillies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan continues to deal with a non-COVID illness and will be held out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench or whether he'll be back in action Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Donovan (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Donovan is away from the ballpark for the second day in a row while he battles symptoms that aren't specifically related to COVID-19. As a result, Donovan hasn't been placed on the COVID-19-related injured list, and the Cardinals maintain optimism that he'll be ready to go for Monday's series finale.

Donovan won't be at the park Saturday against the Phillies due to an illness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan's has not yet been reported to be COVID-19, so it's possible his absence will be brief. Either way, he won't be appearing in any capacity in Saturday's contest.

Donovan isn't starting Saturday against the Phillies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan hit just .200 with seven strikeouts over his last six games and will be out of the lineup for the first time since June 22. The 25-year-old will likely see more sporadic days off going forward after Corey Dickerson (calf) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Donovan went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple, a walk and two runs scored in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs on Sunday.

Donovan helped the Cardinals get to innings-eater Alec Mills early and often. He hit his first career triple in the bottom of the first before coming in to score a run on a Nolan Arenado single. He then led off the third with the first of three Cardinals solo home runs in the inning. The rookie left-handed bat has bounced around the Cardinals lineup so far this year, but with an elite .426 OBP it wouldn't be a surprise to see him continue to hit out of the two-hole like he did Sunday.

Donovan went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk in a 5-3 win over the Cubs on Saturday.

Donovan demonstrated good situational hitting by singling to shallow left with two men in scoring position to give his team an early 2-0 lead. The 25-year-old rookie has showed excellent plate skills since being called up to the big leagues, and he is now hitting .311 with a .422 on-base percentage. Donovan's 146 WRC+ and ability to play both infield and outfield positions should keep him seeing regular at-bats.

Donovan isn't starting Wednesday's game against Milwaukee, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Donovan will get a day off after he went 3-for-18 with three runs, two walks and seven strikeouts over the last four games. Nolan Gorman is starting at second base while Albert Pujols enters the lineup at first.

Donovan went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Pirates.

Donovan was at the center of the Cardinals' fifth-inning rally, hitting a two-run double and scoring on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 4-4. The versatile rookie has gone 13-for-21 (.619) in his last five games, and it's that kind of hitting that has forced manager Oli Marmol's hand in finding a place for Donovan in the lineup on a near-daily basis. The 25-year-old is up to a .341/.448/.465 slash line with one home run, two stolen bases, 20 RBI, 22 runs scored and 13 doubles through 153 plate appearances.

Donovan went 5-for-9 with a walk, a double, an RBI and four runs scored across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Pirates.

The 25-year-old hit leadoff and started in right field in the matinee, reaching base twice and scoring the Cardinals' first run in a 3-1 win, before shifting to third base in the nightcap and erupting for four hits and three runs out of the two hole in a 9-1 rout. Donovan has piled up 10 hits in the last four games, boosting his slash line in June to a stunning .382/.452/.491 through 14 contests.

Donovan went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Monday's 7-5 win over the Pirates.

Donovan sparked the Cardinals' sixth-inning rally with a two-run double before scoring on a Dylan Carlson game-tying home run. Through 12 games in June, Donovan has stayed hot, going 16-for-46 (.348) with five doubles and eight RBI. The rookie utility man is up to a .310/.424/.431 slash line with a homer, 17 RBI, 17 runs scored, 11 doubles and two stolen bases in 41 contests this year. His versatility on defense and hot bat should allow him to continue pushing for consistent playing time even with only Corey Dickerson (calf) unavailable among the Cardinals' regular position players.

Donovan will start at third base and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Pirates.

The recent returns of Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson from the injured list leave Donovan without an everyday job in the outfield, but the 25-year-old has been able to maintain steady playing time while moving into more of a super-utility role. With Nolan Arenado handling designated-hitter duties Monday, Donovan will fill in at third base for what will be his fifth start in the last six games.

Donovan is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's matchup with the Rays, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan will get a breather after going 1-for-8 in the first two contests of the series. Juan Yepez will draw the start in right field and bat sixth Thursday.

Donovan went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and four RBI in a 7-4 extra-inning win over the Cubs in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

After going 1-for-3 with a walk in a 6-1 loss during the matinee, Donovan swung the biggest stick for the Cards in the nightcap, with his second two-run double of the game coming in the 10th inning. The 25-year-old continues to play nearly every day in a super-utility role, slashing .315/.440/.438 through 34 games with a homer, two steals, 14 RBI and 15 runs while seeing action in at least six games so far at all four infield positions plus right field.

Donovan went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Cubs.

Donovan's batting has cooled a bit lately -- he's hitting .231 over his last eight games. In that span, he's also walked five times while striking out just twice. The 25-year-old has a .303/.442/.421 slash line with one home run, nine RBI, 14 runs scored, a stolen base and six doubles through 95 plate appearances. Impressively, his plate discipline has been solid after he didn't post a walk in his first 11 contests. He's walking at a 18.3 percent clip while striking out at just 13.7 percent.

Donovan will start in right field and bat second in Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

He'll occupy right field for the third game in a row and stay in the lineup for the 15th time in the Cardinals' last 17 games while he remains one of the hottest hitters in the lineup. After going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run in Monday's 7-3 win, Donovan will climb from the No. 6 spot in the order to the two hole, swapping lineup positions with Nolan Gorman from a day earlier.

Donovan went 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 18-4 win over the Pirates.

Donovan made his first start in the outfield, filling in for Dylan Carlson (hamstring) in right field. This was also Donovan's first three-hit game and his fourth multi-hit effort in 22 contests this year. The rookie utility man is slashing a strong .319/467/.489 with a home run, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, five doubles and a stolen base across 60 plate appearances.

Donovan will start in right field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Pirates, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

With the Cardinals recently moving Tommy Edman over to shortstop to clear room at the keystone for prospect Nolan Gorman, Donovan looks like he'll lose out on the everyday role in the infield he held for the better part of the past two weeks. However, Donovan looks like he could still end up playing regularly in the corner outfield or at designated hitter after Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list. For at least Sunday's contest, though, Donovan will be filling in for Dylan Carlson, who is day-to-day after exiting Saturday's 5-4 win with hamstring tightness.

Donovan isn't starting Saturday against the Pirates, John Denton of MLB.com

The 25-year-old has started exclusively against right-handed pitchers since joining the major-league club, and he'll take a seat with southpaw Jose Quintana on the mound Saturday. Nolan Gorman made his major-league debut at second base Friday, so Donovan will likely see most of his playing time in left field going forward.

Donovan's path toward consistent playing time is in question since the Cardinals plan to select the contract of Nolan Gorman on Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan drew starts in nine of the last 10 matchups and saw playing time at second base, third base and shortstop. He's hitting .316 with a homer, nine runs, five RBI and a stolen base in the majors, but Gorman will likely see plenty of playing time at second base while Tommy Edman shifts to shortstop. Since Donovan has performed well, it's possible he splits playing time in left field with Corey Dickerson and Juan Yepez since Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) is heading to the 10-day injured list.

Donovan went 2-for-5 with four walks, a stolen base and two runs scored across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Mets.

Donovan's plate discipline has taken a turn skyward lately, as he's walked nine times in the last seven games. The utility man has seen the bulk of his playing time at shortstop or third base -- he'll be part of the mix at the former position in competition with Edmundo Sosa as manager Oli Marmol evaluates his options for a starting role. Donovan is slashing a strong .323/.488/.548 with a home run, five RBI, nine runs scored, a steal and four doubles through his first 18 major-league games.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Donovan went 6-for-12 with a home run, four doubles, four walks, four RBI and four runs while starting the past five games, and he'll receive a well-deserved day off in the series finale versus San Francisco. Edmundo Sosa will start at shortstop and bat ninth in his place.

Donovan went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, two walks, two RBI and three runs scored in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Orioles.

Donovan recorded his first multi-hit game of the season and also drew a walk for the first time in an impressive showing Wednesday. The 25-year-old boasts defensive versatility, and he's now in the mix to compete for a starting role at shortstop with Paul DeJong optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Donovan has racked up a home run, four RBI, six runs scored and two doubles through 21 plate appearances.

Donovan went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles.

After Paul DeJong was demoted to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Donovan was given the first opportunity to replace him in the lineup at shortstop. The 25-year-old launched a solo homer off Dillon Tate to open the bottom of the ninth inning, narrowing the deficit to the eventual 5-3 final score. The long ball was Donovan's first of the season and he has posted a .188 batting average with two RBI in 16 at-bats this year. He will compete with Edmundo Sosa (illness) for playing time at shortstop with DeJong now out of the picture, though Sosa appears the favorite to command the role.

Donovan will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Following the demotion of the struggling Paul DeJong to Triple-A Memphis earlier Tuesday, Donovan will get the first chance to replace him in the starting nine. Donovan turned in a .789 OPS at Memphis prior to earning his first call-up to the majors April 25, but he's seen limited action with the Cardinals thus far, slashing .154/.214/.154 across 14 plate appearances. He likely won't have much time to try and establish himself as the Cards' starting shortstop, as Donovan is expected to face competition for the role as soon as Thursday, when Edmundo Sosa (illness) could be cleared to return from the COVID-19 injured list.

Donovan was called up for the first time by the Cardinals on Monday.

Donovan, a seventh-round pick in the 2018 draft, doesn't come with tons of prospect pedigree, but he's hit well throughout his minor-league career. In 242 games as a professional, he's hit .285/.386/.429 with 21 homers and 23 steals. He's started at every position except catcher and center field, making him a good candidate for a bench role. Lars Nootbaar was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to clear a roster spot.

The Cardinals optioned Donovan to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 25-year-old submitted a .689 OPS over 32 at-bats during spring training and drew praise from manager Oliver Marmol for his versatility and plate approach, so it wouldn't be surprising if Donovan gets a look with the big club early on during the 2022 season. At least for the start of the campaign, however, he'll head to Memphis to play on an everyday basis.

Donovan is making a case to be a utility man on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Manager Oliver Marmol has noticed Donovan not just for his bat (3-for-12 with two walks in spring training) but also his defensive versatility. The 25-year-old is a natural second baseman, but he can also play first and third and all three outfield spots. He also saw 86 innings at shortstop in the minors last season, where he enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Cardinals' farm system. Donovan played in 108 minor-league games in 2021 at the High-A (25), Double-A (50) and Triple-A (33) levels, posting a combined slash line of .304/.399/.455 with 12 home runs, 66 RBI, 73 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. It's too soon to tell if he'll get his first look at the major-league level this year, but he's got the tools to get his foot in the door.