Crawford Back in the Lineup: Mariners Shortstop Returns From Shoulder Injury Ahead of Angels Series

Good news for Seattle fans: J.P. Crawford is back. The Mariners activated their starting shortstop Thursday after he spent the start of the season nursing a right shoulder injury on the 10-day injured list. Crawford is ready to go for the road series against the Los Angeles Angels, and that's a significant boost for a team that needs its veteran presence in the middle of the infield.

Crawford's Path Back to Action

The 31-year-old played limited action to get his timing back. On Tuesday, Crawford appeared in one rehab game for Triple-A Tacoma, going 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. He was supposed to play two rehab games, but Wednesday's contest got rained out, so the Mariners made the call to bring him up early.

Crawford was held to just seven games in the early season due to the shoulder issue, batting .143 with no extra-base hits. But manager Dan Wilson was bullish on his progress. "He's been really on track," Wilson said, "and in some ways ahead of where you would think because of getting opportunities to get as many at-bats as possible and that kind of thing. So, excited that he's getting close."

Crawford has been Seattle's opening day shortstop every year since 2019, so having him back matters. To make room on the roster, infielder Ryan Bliss was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma and right-hander Ryan Loutos was placed on unconditional release waivers.

The Future at Shortstop: Colt Emerson's Big Deal

While Crawford is back, the Mariners are also planning for what comes next. Top shortstop prospect Colt Emerson agreed to an $95 million, eight-year contract with the team, according to a person familiar with the deal. The deal includes a team option for 2034 and would be the largest ever signed by a player who hasn't made his major league debut yet.

Emerson has been impressive early. He batted .278 with one home run, a double, and an .816 OPS in four games for Triple-A Tacoma. In spring training, he appeared in 18 games and hit .268 with two homers, eight RBIs, and an .828 OPS.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto made it clear that Crawford isn't going anywhere right now. When Emerson eventually makes it to the majors, Dipoto said Crawford will stay at shortstop and Emerson will move to third base. "That was always our plan," Dipoto said.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.