J.P. Crawford Is Down, And The M's Shortstop Roller Coaster Is Just Getting Started

Alright, Emerald City, grab your favorite brew because the Mariners just hit us with a gut punch, and then a confusing twist, all within hours. Our guy, J.P. Crawford, is officially on the 10-day injured list with a right hand contusion. That's a huge blow for our lineup, but buckle up, because the shortstop situation for our M's has gone from bad to... well, let's just say, *complicated*.

Crawford Sidelined, Bliss Called Up

Our captain on the field, J.P. Crawford, took a brutal shot to his right hand from a 95-mph sinker from Framber Valdez during our loss to Detroit on Friday. He had to leave the game in the third inning and missed the entire rest of that series. Now, the team confirms he's on the IL, with the move retroactive to Saturday. J.P. has been holding down the fort, starting at shortstop in 53 of his 55 games this season. He's batting .228 with 10 dingers and 23 RBIs so far. To fill his spot, the M's called up infielder Ryan Bliss from Triple-A Tacoma, a necessary move to add some depth to the infield. Bliss has had a quiet season down in Triple-A, batting .204 with one homer in 51 games, and has a .210 average across 45 career big-league games. He did appear in one game earlier this season for us as a pinch hitter.

The Shortstop Shuffle Gets Wild

Here's where things got truly bizarre just before Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Originally, we were all geared up to see rookie Colt Emerson, our 20-year-old top prospect who just made his MLB debut last month, take over shortstop duties. But then, an hour before first pitch, he was scratched from the lineup! The Mariners said it was due to back tightness. So, who steps up? None other than Cole Young, the 22-year-old first-round pick from the 2022 MLB Draft, who is now slated to get his first career start at shortstop tonight! Young has been solid for us this season, batting .253 with four homers and 31 RBIs in his second major league season, primarily playing second base in 66 games. And to round out the infield, Bliss will be starting at second tonight. This is a wild turn of events for our infield. What a day for the Mariners' infield! Tonight, our M's are facing the Baltimore Orioles, and all eyes will be on Cole Young as he takes on the challenging role of starting shortstop for the first time. Can he seize this unexpected opportunity? Can the M's overcome these sudden injuries and hold their ground? It's going to be a fascinating game to watch, and we'll be here for every single pitch. Let's go, Mariners!

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