ST. LOUIS – Two months into the 2025 MLB season, the St. Louis Cardinals have emerged as surprise contenders, powered by some big bats, led best by Brendan Donovan.
Donovan, now 28 years old in his fourth big-league season, has emerged as one of baseball’s best hitters this season, currently leading the National League with 69 hits and firmly in the running for a batting title.
As of Thursday, Donovan’s .335 season batting average barely trails National League leader and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (.338) among qualified hitters.
Donovan’s consistency has fueled his breakout offensive season. He’s recorded at least one hit in 41 of 53 games played through Thursday (77% of games) and enjoyed 16 multi-hit games.
Donovan is also on pace to challenge a notable franchise milestone: The most doubles in a single season by a left-handed Cardinals hitter.
Through 53 games, Donovan has 18 doubles through the two-month mark, roughly one-third into the season. He is currently on pace to finish with around 54 by the season’s end.
His former teammate, Matt Carpenter, currently holds the team’s single-season record for doubles by a left-handed hitter, collecting 55 in the 2013 campaign. That’ ranks the third most of all-time in a Cardinals single season. ‘s the third-most in Cardinals history for a single season.
The top two marks, perhaps more difficult to reach, belong to Hall of Famer Joe Medwick from the Gashouse Gang era. Medwick finished with a franchise-record 64 single-season doubles in 1936, then followed that up with 56 in 1937.
Still, at Donovan’s pace and with a clean bill of health, he could easily finish among the Top 5 on the Cardinals’ elusive single-season doubles list, potentially even surpassing Cardinals legend Stan Musial’s best of 53.
Donovan credits his recent success to a more balanced, strategic hitting approach.
“I think it’s just about being diligent with the angles I am hitting the ball,” said Donovan via a report from MLB.com’s John Denton. “We have so many things to track balls in our cages, so knowing what angles perform the best for me off my batted-ball profile, I practice my shots.
Donovan, who is also well known for his defensive versatility though has settled in at second base this season, ranks among the Cardinals’ Top 5 in runs scored (31), RBI (24) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.876) this season.
The Cardinals are currently 32-24 after a series win over the Baltimore Orioles, having won 18 of their last 23 games. They currently hold the National League’s second Wild Card spot and trail the Chicago Cubs for the division lead by three games.
Up next, a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers, followed by a nine-game homestand with the Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.