Former Enterprise Wildcat Brendan Donovan got the call last week all minor league baseball players hope for–the St. Louis Cardinals brought him up to The Show on Monday, April 25.
In an interview with KSDK news in St. Louis, Donovan was asked about his reaction when he got the call.
“We had just finished a Sunday day game and the manager called me to his office,” Donovan said. “He played a joke on me and asked me about an incident that happened in the game and we were talking it over and he said, “By the way, you’re going to the big leagues.’ I said are you messing with me? And he said, no, you’re going.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Donovan said. “I’ll put the cleats on and start to wrap my head around it. It’s surreal. I’m pumped to be here and look to help this team win.”
Donovan is an infield utility player who can play all four positions in the infield and the corner outfield spots. He bats left-handed throws right and provides the Cardinals with another left-handed bat.
He was the 213th pick of the seventh round in 2018 by the Cardinals out of the University of South Alabama and started his career playing A ball with the Peoria Chiefs in 2019 before moving to the AAA Memphis Redbirds at the end of the 2019 season. While with Peoria he earned Player of the Month honors in 2019 and was named AAA East Offensive Player of the Week in September 2021.
While playing with the Memphis Redbirds in 2022, Donovan had a .298 batting average with one home run, six RBIs and scored 12 runs.
“My family lives outside of Memphis in Cordova, Tenn., so I had some family around and it was a cool moment,” Donovan said. “I shot them a text saying I got called up and had to pack my stuff up. I had to throw my stuff in the car and just share a moment with them.
“I’m just trying to take it all in, just trying to enjoy the moment. It’s the same game, you’ve just got to go play.”
Donovan played his first game in the big leagues on April 25 when he was put in the game as a pinch runner against the New York Mets and scored his first run in MLB. He started the next night at first base against the Mets. Donovan got his first hit in the majors against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 28 when he replaced first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the bottom of the eighth inning and singled on a sharp ground ball to right field.
While at Enterprise High School, Donovan lettered four years in baseball and two years in football. He was named a Louisville Slugger High School All-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2015 and earned 7A first team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a shortstop his senior year.
Shawn Gilmer, Donovan’s coach at EHS, said, “I am just so proud of Brendan and for his family. Most kids that play baseball dream of being where he’s at but few have that rare combination of talent and work ethic.
“Brendan was one of those guys that always stayed for extra ground balls and would hit in the cages after practice till midnight if you’d let him,” Gilmer said. “His toughness, leadership, and work ethic set him apart from the time he started playing on the varsity in the ninth grade.
“One of the biggest assets he can offer the Cardinals is his versatility. He has played six different positions in the minors so he offers them a lot of options.
“I know he is so excited for the opportunity and I am excited for him. I mean just being around Pujols, Molina, Wainright, Goldie and all those guys everyday and soaking up that knowledge, wow.”
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