Cardinals' Brendan Donovan emerges as a leader during transition season

New York Times

2 days ago

The mania that comes ahead of your major-league debut can feel frantic, hectic and chaotic, to put it mildly.
Players usually arrive on little sleep, having come from the minor leagues with minimal notice. They've often spent most of their travel time texting as many family members and friends as possible.
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Upon arrival, it's a mad dash to meet the manager, teammates and training staff, followed by media availability and pregame routines. If a player is lucky, he'll have a few minutes to collect himself before first pitch. Often, big leaguers will describe their long-awaited debuts as whirlwinds and can't recall much about the day itself.
That's where Brendan Donovan comes in.
The St. Louis Cardinals infielder has established a tradition. On debut days, Donovan will present the call-up with a celebratory bottle of Ace of Spades gold champagne. The bottle is dated by equipment manager Mark Walsh and signed by every player on the active roster that day. It's not much — a memento acknowledging the milestone — but the sentiment behind the gesture carries considerable weight.
The Cardinals were more than halfway through the 2023 season when this tradition began, but Donovan's season was over after elbow surgery in August. St. Louis was struggling through its worst season in over three decades. Donovan couldn't help on the field, but felt he could make an impact behind the scenes.
'I was trying to build a culture,' Donovan explained. 'How do I make people comfortable? How do I make them feel they belong?'
Donovan began asking these questions nearly two years ago, and he hasn't stopped since. He does have some answers, and it shows in how he navigates a clubhouse where he's gained full respect.
Throughout this transition year in St. Louis, no player has grown into more of a leadership role than Donovan. It has required him to far surpass his comfort zone, and he's had to learn a lot. There's an ease in how Donovan maneuvers through his daily routine, which has led teammates to gravitate toward his consistency. For how reliable Donovan has been on the diamond this year, his transformation outside of the white lines is most impressive.
Talking about himself ranks very low on Donovan's list of preferred topics. The 28-year-old is eager to emphasize the play of others over his own.
Part of that stems from his military background. Donovan was born in Würzburg, Germany, while his father, James (Jim), was stationed there with the U.S. Army. He spent his childhood moving around various U.S. states, including Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama. He learned discipline and adaptability from his father and his mother, Lisa, who held down the fort while Jim was on deployment.
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Those traits helped propel Donovan's career. He has a simple philosophy when he arrives at the stadium each day: How can he solve a problem?
'How can I give the manager flexibility? How can I give competitive at-bats? How can I run the bases?' Donovan said. 'That's how I look at it: What can I do to try to help this team win on a daily basis?'
His play certainly helps. The Cardinals (47-38) are fresh off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians and sit a season-best nine games over .500, firmly in the National League playoff hunt. Donovan has been instrumental in leading them.
At the season's halfway mark, he's hitting .297 with a team-best .376 on-base percentage. His .793 OPS ranks second on the Cardinals to Alec Burleson's .804. Donovan has the defensive skills to play around the diamond, but he's been so solid at second base that the Cardinals are reluctant to move him to the outfield unless it's truly necessary. He's a unanimous choice around the clubhouse to represent the team at the All-Star Game.
Donnie goes deep on the FIRST pitch of the game! pic.twitter.com/D53NsaJIwr
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 28, 2025
But there is more to the game than producing, at least from Donovan's perspective. When the Cardinals announced their plans to reset in 2025, Donovan could have felt stuck in the middle. He was entering his fourth full season in the majors but still not experienced enough to be considered a veteran. As the organization shifted its focus to young and upcoming players, it would have been understandable if Donovan felt like he was on the outside looking in.
Instead, he realized he had an opportunity to share his insight.
'That's what I took to this offseason, but that's what I've tried to do my whole career,' Donovan said. 'I didn't see it as anything different. We have some guys that are learning how to become themselves, learning about the game. Unfortunately, the best teacher of this game is failure. So I thought, 'How can I aid some of these players? How can I be a shoulder or an ear they can come to?' And I can listen and hopefully provide some guidance.'
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It took some trial and error. Donovan is not a flashy personality. He prefers to lead by example. But that leadership style isn't what the clubhouse needed from him this season. The Cardinals needed young players to be accountable and lead the charge for the next wave of talent. Veteran players Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado encouraged this dynamic, reasoning that if the focus is on the future, the future needs to step up.
So Donovan took a few uncomfortable steps forward.
'I don't seek it,' he said. 'I don't want to be loud and obnoxious. I don't want to be that guy. But I think it's important for me to try to raise the level of play through preparation. I've seen it through former teammates. I've seen it with my parents, my military mom running a household while dad's on deployment. Being the same person every day, setting the example of working hard, no excuses. That's what I try to do.
'Where do I think I've grown in that? I think I've tried to invest more in people. I've tried to get to know them as a person to show that I genuinely do care about them, and that they can feel comfortable coming to me, speaking to me, knowing they can confide in me.'
It can be as simple as a text message, a suggestion in the batting cages or a short conversation over a meal. In Thomas Saggese's case, it was an offer to break down some video.
Saggese, a 23-year-old infielder who has bounced between Triple A and the majors, was in his first stint with the Cardinals this season when he saw Donovan make a break for the film room after the game. Curious, Saggese asked where he was going. An invitation followed.
'Come with me.'
Donovan's rigorous routine isn't just for pregame. After most games, he heads straight to the Cardinals' video room to break down plays and swings with head video coordinator Chad Blair and first-base coach Stubby Clapp. With Saggese in tow, Donovan helped analyze specific moments, good and bad. Film clips ranged from solid defensive stops and balanced swings to questionable defensive routes and base-running gaffes. These film sessions allow Saggese to explain what he was thinking in real-time. When asked, Donovan shared what he would have done and how he might go about things differently. He detailed what he liked about the play and what he didn't.
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Bouncing ideas off each other helps both players, Donovan explained. The goal isn't to get on players if they make a mistake. The goal is to teach through an open dialogue.
'I try to do things like him,' Saggese said, unable to contain a sheepish smile. '(Donovan) is someone you can really trust. He's pretty quiet, so you have to go up to him and talk to him. I've made that one of my priorities. … He's definitely a big part of this team.'
For all the teaching he's been doing, Donovan is still evolving himself. He became a first-time father last year; his wife, Aly, and 1-year-old daughter, Viviane, accompany him to most home games and on many road trips. Donovan is far from a perfect player, but he takes exceptional pride in ensuring he's at his best every day.
'There are only a few things you can control in this game: your mentality, your preparation and your hustle,' Donovan said. 'I might get a little more nicks and bruises, but I enjoy playing hard.'
Younger players aren't the only ones taking note. Earlier this month, Contreras applauded Donovan's defense at second base, his diligence and, most notably, his growth.
'You can see him working,' Contreras said. 'He's a professional on and off the field. It's really good to have a guy like him who goes to work and puts 100 percent effort in day in and day out. His energy and work ethic are contagious.'
As the Cardinals continue to force their way into playoff conversations, heightened tensions loom. For many of these players, including Donovan, it would be the first time they have faced pressure of this nature. Donovan welcomes such scrutiny. As with his everyday play, he's not shying away from anything. The future core of this club will continue to be a focus.
'A player's dream is to be with one organization their whole career, and to win a lot and to bring a lot of success and a lot of joy to a fan base,' Donovan said. 'I would love to be a part of that.'