It was a wild one in Toronto, but the St. Louis Cardinals left the field with more than just a loss to dwell on. Despite a late-game surge, the Cards came up just short in a 10-9 thriller against the Blue Jays—and the sting of defeat was amplified by a potentially serious injury to one of their most valuable players: Brendan Donovan.
Donovan exited in the ninth inning with what the team later described as “left toe discomfort,” according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The utility standout—who has been red-hot at the plate and invaluable all over the diamond—was replaced in left field by Ryan Vilade, with Yohel Pozo stepping in to pinch hit.
What Happened?
The exact moment of injury remains unclear. Donovan was hit by a slow curveball from Chris Bassitt earlier in the game, though the pitch didn’t appear to make contact near his foot. Later, he sprinted from first to third on Alec Burleson’s single, which may have aggravated something. Whether it was during that run or while playing the outfield, the Cardinals aren’t certain just yet.
Manager Oli Marmol revealed postgame that Brendan Donovan has been dealing with “irritation in the joint of his left big toe for an extended period,” and the team hopes to learn more soon—possibly by Wednesday, per MLB.com’s John Denton.
What the loss of Brendan Donovan means for St. Louis
Let’s be clear: Donovan’s health is critical. He’s not just producing—he’s leading the Cardinals in WAR and doing it with unmatched consistency. Through 248 at-bats, he’s slashing .310/.379/.440 with 4 home runs, 26 RBIs, and an .819 OPS. His 20 doubles are tied for second in the National League alongside slugger Pete Alonso.
He’s also using a version of the Torpedo Bat.
More than just numbers, it’s his defensive versatility and leadership that have made him one of the most indispensable pieces in a Cardinals lineup that’s outperforming early-season expectations. Whether it’s left field, second base, or third, Donovan plugs holes and makes winning plays—day in and day out.
With the Cardinals in a tight race to chase down the NL Central-leading Cubs and jockeying for Wild Card position, they can’t afford to lose him—not even for a handful of games.
For now, fans wait with fingers crossed and eyes on the upcoming update. If Brendan Donovan is sidelined, the ripple effect could be massive. But if this turns out to be a short-term scare, St. Louis might just dodge a bullet in what’s shaping up to be a critical stretch of the season.
