Mariners Injury Updates: Latest on Donovan, Hancock, and more

SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners are still waiting for third baseman Brendan Donovan to take the last step in his recovery from a concussion.

Injured Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Brash undergoes MRI

Donovan has been making what general manger Justin Hollander described as “incremental” progress from the head injury he sustained Aug. 22 when he was struck by a pitch in the batting cages while not wearing a helmet.

“Some days are better than others,” Hollander said. “The last few days during the pregame he has felt symptomatic towards the end of each of those pregames, whether it’s like a little bit of nausea, fatigue, dizziness – things that it’s just not OK if we run him out there when he’s feeling those things.”

The club will continue to test Donovan during pregame workouts. Once he is able to get through those symptom free, Donovan will be ready for activation. However, he could end up needing a game or two on a minor-league rehab assignment after missing what is now nearly two weeks.

“We’ll see when we cross that bridge whether he needs to go and take some at-bats in Tacoma or whether it’s just straight activation,” Hollander said.

Donovan, who has been limited to just 39 games this year by two stints on the IL with a left groin muscle strain and now the concussion, was hitting his stride at the plate prior to the incident in the batting cages. He had reached base in 10 of his past 11 games, which included six multi-hit games. During that stretch, he slashed .318/.375/.386 with three doubles, seven RBIs and six runs scored.

With Donovan out, the Mariners have been relying on Weston Wilson and Brock Rodden at third base in what’s essentially been a platoon. In 11 games since Donovan’s injury entering Thursday, M’s third basemen were slashing .237/.310/.263 with one extra-base hit and a 74 wRC+.

Hollander gave updates on a few other injured Mariners. Below is a look at what he said.

• Starting pitcher Emerson Hancock is scheduled throw on Sunday, which could be off a mound or flat ground. The club will determine where Hancock is at in his progression from a left abductor strain afterwards.

Hancock suffered the injury last Friday when sliding to field a ball and make a tag in front of first base on a stellar play in the first inning of his start against the Toronto Blue Jays. He stayed in the game after and made it through five innings while throwing 65 pitches.

Hancock’s IL stint thrust right-hander Bryce Miller back into the rotation after he was moved to the bullpen last Friday. Miller took the mound for his first start since his brief stint in the bullpen on Wednesday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings in an 8-3 win over the Red Sox. Seattle’s win snapped an eight-game losing streak in games started by Miller.

• Reliever Matt Brash underwent an MRI on his right lat due to experiencing tightness after a bullpen session in Boston earlier this week. You can read more about Brash at this link.

• Reliever Cole Wilcox (left oblique strain) will touch a mound this weekend, whether that is throwing off the front of the slope or the rubber, and then throw a couple bullpen sessions with the goal of getting some rehab games with Triple-A Tacoma before its season ends Sept. 20. The hope is right-hander could be available to return to the M’s before the end of their season.

• Reliever Nick Davila (SC joint) is dealing with either a stress reaction and sprain, which the club will know when it gets results from an MRI he underwent Thursday. The SC joint is what connects the clavicle to the sternum. Regardless of the results, Davila will miss the rest of this season.

• Outfielder Victor Robles was heading back to the Dominican Republic on Thursday to deal with a family emergency. He was placed on the family medical emergency list before Thursday’s game.

“Every indication is that everybody will be OK. But Victor is in the right place heading to the D.R. right now, and our thoughts are with Victor and his family,” Hollander said.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• It’s go time: The Seattle Mariners’ last road to a playoff push is now
• Seattle Mariners sign former top prospect to minors deal
• Andrés Muñoz’s changeup has been untouchable

Related

Mariners drop series opener to Athletics 7-4Injured Mariners reliever Matt Brash undergoes MRIMariners Moves: Victor Robles to family medical emergency list; DFA’d players retainedMariners Lineup: Lazaro Montes in RF for T-Mobile Park debutSalk: For Seattle Mariners to make playoffs, they need these 4 thingsLazaro Montes brings Mariners something they were missing