From the shadow of the reserve to the halo of the All-Star: Brendan Donovan and the journey of sweat and burning fatherly love

The unknown reserve of the past, now named among the elite
In 2022, the name Brendan Donovan is almost unknown to most Cardinals fans. A “utility” player – meaning versatile, but also synonymous with having no fixed position, always being a substitute, a patcher, a rotation.

Donovan doesn’t hit the ball farther than anyone else. Doesn’t throw it harder than anyone else. But he has one thing that makes the entire coaching staff nod:

Dedication, hard work, patience and never complaining.

2024 is the year he quietly becomes a pillar of the team. And then 2025 – the All-Star call rings out. Not because of luck. But it’s a reward for more than 1,000 hours of silently honing his muscles and will.

In March 2024, as everyone counts down to the new season, Donovan welcomes his first daughter on a sunny morning in Alabama.

“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Every game after that, I played for my daughter,” – he shared with the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

From a calm man, he became more passionate and persistent. His sliding tackles, his saves… all became “messages of love sent to a small home far away.”

The day Brendan Donovan wore his first All-Star jersey, standing next to names like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge – he did not shed tears for personal glory. But because he thought about the day his daughter grew up, seeing his father daring to persevere to the end.

“I don’t need to be famous. I just want my daughter to ask me: Dad, were you good when you were young? – I can answer: Dad tried his best.”

Brendan Donovan is no longer a substitute. He is a shining example in the locker room, an inspiration for young players – that you don’t need to be noticed, just don’t give up.

The Cardinals fan community affectionately calls him “The Iron Dad” – the steel father.

❝ He may not be as flashy as the superstars…
But Brendan Donovan is exactly what baseball needs:
A heart that is genuine, steadfast, and full of humanity. ❞

What about you?
What do you think of Donovan’s journey? Is the most beautiful sport not about the trophies – but about the people who play it with all their hearts?