JUPITER, FLORIDA – MARCH 06: Brendan Donovan #33 of the St. Louis Cardinals at bat during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium on March 06, 2025 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Brendan Donovan has been arguably the best and most consistent Cardinal of 2025, to the point where he SHOULD be in early MVP conversations.

So why isn’t anybody talking about him?

So far this year, Donovan is batting .349 with 37 hits, nine doubles and three home runs with 16 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 106 at-bats in 27 games. He has walked seven times, struck out 14 times and has three stolen bases, 55 total bases and a .910 OPS.

But 2025 is not an outlier season for him. Donovan has proven since the beginning he’s a high-caliber player who is beneficial wherever they put him in the lineup… or in the field.

In 2022, Donovan’s rookie season, he hit the ground running, slashing .281/.394/.379 and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting while winning a Gold Glove.

Momentum was building in 2023, a season where he posted a 118 wRC+, before injury cut his season short. Last year was the first full season for Donovan, and he posted a 3.2 fWAR across 153 games while slashing .278/.342/.417 with a new career high of 14 home runs.

Although we did not see drastic improvements year over year, Donovan proved himself as a high-floor versatile player without much of a weakness in his game. And for what he may lack in some aspects, such as speed on the basepaths, his intelligence

St. Louis has spent the better part of two years in a confusing spot.

Poor play, changes in the organization, rare last-place finishes, and the “will they or won’t they?” enter a rebuild question loom large. Their direction (I’m not even comfortable calling it that) remains unclear. Paul Goldschmidt walked in free agency, but Nolan Arenado wasn’t traded.

Despite the constant shuffling and messes surrounding this team, Donovan has been a consistent contributor. Someone fans have grown to love and managers adore. No matter the task, he’s up for it.

If the Cardinals do decide to rebuild, Donovan should be seen as part of the core that helps lead St. Louis back in future years.

Although much is uncertain with the St. Louis Cardinals, one thing I know is that Brendan Donovan deserves more praise and recognition, and will be a franchise player for years to come.