Opening Day Disaster: Two Mariners Stars Out Before Season Even Starts
Well, this is not how you want to kick off your season. The Mariners are heading into Opening Day without two of their most important players, and honestly, it's the kind of injury news that makes you groan before the first pitch even gets thrown. Shortstop J.P. Crawford and right-hander Bryce Miller are both starting the season on the injured list, and that's a massive blow to a team with plenty to prove in 2026.
Crawford Down With Shoulder Trouble
Crawford, 31, has been the face of this franchise for years. The guy has started at shortstop on Opening Day for each of the last seven seasons straight, and he is Seattle's longest-tenured player. But a right shoulder injury limited him to just seven spring training games, and the numbers tell the story of how not ready he is: he batted .143 with zero extra-base hits. That is not a guy you want in the lineup right now.
Last season, Crawford hit .265 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .722 OPS. He is a solid middle-of-the-order threat when healthy, so losing him stings. Leo Rivas, the 28-year-old utility guy who hit .244 with two home runs in 90 at-bats last season, will take over at shortstop. The team also had top prospect Colt Emerson pushing for playing time after an impressive spring, but he got reassigned to minor league camp instead.
Miller's Oblique a Bigger Problem Than Expected
Miller, 27, has been dealing with a left oblique injury all spring long. Two weeks ago, he cut a bullpen session short after feeling discomfort. On March 11, he threw some warmup pitches, took a break, and decided not to throw any full-effort pitches at all. He is still at spring training in Peoria, Arizona, working on building arm strength back up. He has thrown two bullup sessions since that early cutoff, so there is some progress, but it is not enough to get him ready for Opening Day.
Last season was rough for Miller too. He went 4-6 with a 5.68 ERA in 18 starts and spent significant time on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. He did pitch in the postseason though, going 1-1 with a 2.51 ERA. Right-hander Emerson Hancock, who started 16 games last season and went 4-5 with a 4.90 ERA, will slot into the rotation in Miller's place.
The Injury Pile Keeps Growing
It is not just Crawford and Miller either. Utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, 24, also started the season on the 10-day injured list after suffering a calf injury while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He hit .250 with one home run and 12 RBIs in a part-time role last season.
The Mariners got down to their 26-man active roster Wednesday, and this is what they are working with. Here is hoping Crawford and Miller can get healthy fast, because this team needs them both firing if they want to make some noise in the AL West.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.