MLBbro JP Crawford has been a mainstay at shortstop in the Seattle Mariners lineup for almost a decade. His bat is heating up and he’s on a 10-game on base streak for a team that is leading the AL West Division.
On Monday, the Mariners activated JP Crawford from the injured list. The Seattle Mariners are no longer without its Gold Glove award-winning shortstop.
Crawford made an appearance in Monday’s contest against the New York Yankees. He came off the bench and did not record a hit in two plate appearances. While his return took a little longer, the 29-year-old could not wait to get back on the field with his teammates.
“A lot later than what I expected, but I’m just happy I can join the team,” Crawford said.
The MLBbro went on the injured list back on April 25th and missed 23 games with a right oblique strain.
He was initially set to return on May 17th, but the team wanted him to play in a second rehab game that Wednesday with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate, Tacoma Rainiers.
During that game, Crawford took a fastball to his right hand while he was at the plate.
“I was really scared,” he said. “It just hurt right away, but we ran some tests right after, so I didn’t think anything was broken. But then I woke up the next morning before our flight and I couldn’t even like grip a ball or hold the bat, so that’s when I got a little scared. It hurt bad, but thankfully nothing was broken.”
Now that Crawford has returned to Seattle, he’ll look to pick things up after having a slow start to the season.
Crawford has had slow starts in previous seasons and that’s one thing that does not phase him. Back in April, he had the opportunity to talk with our very own Malik Wright about not letting slow starts get to him.
Through 23 games, he’s hitting .193 with two homers and nine RBI. Before going on the injured list, he was riding a five-game hitting streak with two multi-hit games during that stretch.
Seattle is looking to make their second postseason appearance in the last three years and Crawford will play a key role for his team throughout the season. Since entering the league, Crawford competed at a high level and has put the time and work in to become a leader on this Seattle team.
Whether he’s on a hitting streak or a slump, he’s going to go out there and leave it all on the field. He’s a competitor and wants to win and he help continue to cultivate a winning culture in Seattle.
Crawford has dealt with injuries in previous years, but it hasn’t been anything significant. If he can continue to stay healthy, he will be just fine. As it stands now, Seattle is sitting at the top of the standings in the AL West and now that Crawford is back, the team will look to continue to fight at full strength.
Malik Wright was live at the ballpark with Seattle Shortstop and Captain JP Crawford who is heating up after a slow start for AL West-contending Mariners.
The Seattle Mariners have a rock in their lineup and its at the very top. Shortstop J.P. Crawford is the leadoff hitter for this club and he is looking forward to 2024. “Spring is going great, we have a good group of guys and ready to get the season started” Crawford said. “I’m really not trying to work on anything, just stay where I am at, really relaxed and go out there and do damage” he added.
If you take a look at J.P. Crawford, you will notice very simply that the brother has a cool demeanor. I’m gonna call it California cool. “West coast, is the best coast. I don’t know what more to say” Crawford said with pride.
When asked about MLBbros he followed growing up, a California native not surprisingly was first on the list.
“Aaron Hicks is from my same hometown” he said. “Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins, and Curtis Granderson were my big three” Crawford told us.
The Mariners spring training clubhouse is usually open by 7:30am most morning. Many of the players arrive closer to 6am. This team is ready to go and the early hours are the norm. “We have a lot of older people in the clubhouse, and everyone knows how to handle themselves” Crawford has a positive outlook. “We’re all professionals in here, so it’s great” Crawford said with excitement.
Crawford likes his music and has tons of songs readily available on his iPad. “My reggae songs, I can’t listen to hip hop, I get too geeked up in the box” he said when asked what his walk-up music will be this season. “The reggae will slow that heartbeat down a little bit” Crawford added.
With opening day getting closer there is a lot of chatter about this team that won 88 games a year ago. The excitement will really begin when a calm, cool, and collected J.P. Crawford walks towards the batter’s box with some good tunes bouncing in the T-Mobile Park background.
JP Crawford discussed the American League West race, keys to his great season and his impact on Black baseball culture.
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