J.P. Crawford Is Back: The Mariners' Shortstop Begins His Road to Opening Day
Here we go. After starting the season on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, J.P. Crawford has officially begun his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. The Rainiers announced the move Tuesday, and yeah, this matters. Crawford is the longest-tenured Mariner on the roster, and getting him back healthy could be huge for a team already five games into the season.
What Kept Crawford Out
The 31-year-old shortstop hit the 10-day injured list before the season even started, dealing with right shoulder inflammation that basically shut him down in spring training. He only got seven games and 18 plate appearances in during Cactus League play, with his last spring game coming March 11. But here's the thing: Crawford didn't just sit around. While the team broke camp in Peoria, Arizona, and headed to Seattle, he stuck around and got extra at-bats in minor league spring training games. Then on Saturday, he rejoined the squad in Seattle and got in some batting practice and fielding drills.
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The Timeline for His Return
Technically, Crawford is eligible to return from the IL as early as Wednesday. But don't expect him back that soon. The expectation is he'll rejoin the Mariners sometime during their first road trip, which kicks off Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. That gives him time to get real at-bats in Tacoma and shake off the rust before jumping back into the lineup.
While Crawford has been out, Leo Rivas has been holding down shortstop. Rivas is batting .235 (4 for 17) with a triple, an RBI, two walks and six strikeouts through the team's first five games. Not exactly setting the world on fire, but that's what happens when you're filling in for a guy like Crawford.
Why This Matters
Coming off a 2025 season where he posted a 3.8 bWAR (the second-highest of his career), Crawford is the definition of a steady force up the middle. He slashed .265/.352/.370 with a .722 OPS last year, with 12 homers and 24 doubles. His on-base percentage ranked sixth in MLB among primary shortstops. That's the kind of production you need in the middle of your lineup, especially early in a season like this one.
Get ready. Once Crawford gets his legs back in Tacoma, the Mariners' lineup is going to look a whole lot different heading into that Angels series.
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