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SEATTLE — Before the Seattle Mariners' eventual 5-4 win against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park, there was a sight never before seen at T-Mobile Park: shortstop J.P. Crawford fielding grounders at third base.
Since the Mariners acquired Crawford in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 3, 2018, he's been the team's shortstop. The unofficial "captain" of the team, the longest-tenured player in Seattle's clubhouse, the only player in the organization who was on the field for the final game of legendary starting pitcher Felix Hernandez.
Now, Crawford is sharing a clubhouse with his potential replacement.
Crawford is in the final year of a five-year, $51 million contract. The Mariners called up their top prospect, shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 6 MLB Pipeline top 100), on Sunday ahead of a game against the San Diego Padres.
Emerson played third base his first two games in the big leagues, but played shortstop against the White Sox in games two and three of the series Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, while Crawford was out with a sore triceps after being hit by a pitch in the series against the Padres on Sunday.
Crawford didn't throw while fielding grounders at third base due to the soreness in his arm.
Crawford approached manager Dan Wilson about testing out third base and his agent reached out to general manager Justin Hollander about it.
"Just came up as a thought in my head," Crawford said in a postgame interview Wednesday. "I want to be a Mariner for life and I think that's the best way to do it and always being open to helping the team win."
Crawford said that he's been "thinking about" making the move to third for a while.
The decision for Crawford to play third base may be due to him wanting to preserve his future with Seattle, but it's also him paying forward the example past veterans showed to him.
Emerson has been publicly and internally regarded as the Mariners' shortstop of the future for a decent period of time. He was awarded with an eight-year, $95 million contract that will keep him with the club through 2033.
Rather than be contemptuous of the youngsters positioned to take his job, Crawford has taken Emerson and 2025 call-up (and former top 100 call) up Cole Young under his wing. Both youngsters have named Crawford as a key mentor for them during their maturation from top prospects to big league infielders.
When Emerson hit his first major league home run (and base-hit) Monday, Crawford was one of the first from the dugout to celebrate with him. He's paying forward the same veteran mentorship he says Seager and former Mariner Dee Gordon showed him.
"I made a promise to myself to be like them," Crawford said. " ... The goal here is to win a World Series and to stay here as long as I can. And that's the only two things on my mind. ... I was super happy for (Colt). I was really hyped up for him. There's no better feeling than that — getting the first (hit) out of the way, especially it being a homer. You got two things out of the way in one swing. Kudos to him. Just wanted to be there for him. We're all on the same team, we all have the same goal and that's to win a World Series and the sooner he can get comfy here, the better."
Seattle Mariners infielders Dee Gordon (left) and J.P. Crawford celebrate after a win against the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 23, 2019, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. | James Buchanan/Imagn Images.
As for the technical aspect of making the move from short to third, Crawford doesn't seem phased with the switch.
"Just catch the ball, throw the ball," Crawford said. "You're just in a new spot. That's really all there is to it."
Crawford's future with the organization is still unknown. But this season, Crawford is taking the initiative to do what he can to help the team win. An action befitting of "the captain."
Remember to join our MARINERS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Mariners fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
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Since the Mariners acquired Crawford in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 3, 2018, he's been the team's shortstop. The unofficial "captain" of the team, the longest-tenured player in Seattle's clubhouse, the only player in the organization who was on the field for the final game of legendary starting pitcher Felix Hernandez.
Now, Crawford is sharing a clubhouse with his potential replacement.
Crawford is in the final year of a five-year, $51 million contract. The Mariners called up their top prospect, shortstop Colt Emerson (No. 6 MLB Pipeline top 100), on Sunday ahead of a game against the San Diego Padres.
Emerson played third base his first two games in the big leagues, but played shortstop against the White Sox in games two and three of the series Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, while Crawford was out with a sore triceps after being hit by a pitch in the series against the Padres on Sunday.
Crawford didn't throw while fielding grounders at third base due to the soreness in his arm.
Crawford approached manager Dan Wilson about testing out third base and his agent reached out to general manager Justin Hollander about it.
"Just came up as a thought in my head," Crawford said in a postgame interview Wednesday. "I want to be a Mariner for life and I think that's the best way to do it and always being open to helping the team win."
Crawford said that he's been "thinking about" making the move to third for a while.
The decision for Crawford to play third base may be due to him wanting to preserve his future with Seattle, but it's also him paying forward the example past veterans showed to him.
Emerson has been publicly and internally regarded as the Mariners' shortstop of the future for a decent period of time. He was awarded with an eight-year, $95 million contract that will keep him with the club through 2033.
Rather than be contemptuous of the youngsters positioned to take his job, Crawford has taken Emerson and 2025 call-up (and former top 100 call) up Cole Young under his wing. Both youngsters have named Crawford as a key mentor for them during their maturation from top prospects to big league infielders.
When Emerson hit his first major league home run (and base-hit) Monday, Crawford was one of the first from the dugout to celebrate with him. He's paying forward the same veteran mentorship he says Seager and former Mariner Dee Gordon showed him.
"I made a promise to myself to be like them," Crawford said. " ... The goal here is to win a World Series and to stay here as long as I can. And that's the only two things on my mind. ... I was super happy for (Colt). I was really hyped up for him. There's no better feeling than that — getting the first (hit) out of the way, especially it being a homer. You got two things out of the way in one swing. Kudos to him. Just wanted to be there for him. We're all on the same team, we all have the same goal and that's to win a World Series and the sooner he can get comfy here, the better."
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Seattle Mariners infielders Dee Gordon (left) and J.P. Crawford celebrate after a win against the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 23, 2019, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. | James Buchanan/Imagn Images.
As for the technical aspect of making the move from short to third, Crawford doesn't seem phased with the switch.
"Just catch the ball, throw the ball," Crawford said. "You're just in a new spot. That's really all there is to it."
Crawford's future with the organization is still unknown. But this season, Crawford is taking the initiative to do what he can to help the team win. An action befitting of "the captain."
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Remember to join our MARINERS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Mariners fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Continue reading...
