This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer’s Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SEATTLE -- J.P. Crawford admittedly still feels like “a kid at heart,” and becoming a first-time father last winter has given him an even grander appreciation for paying it forward to younger generations.
Yet, even before baby Korra was welcomed to the world, the Mariners’ shortstop was among the team’s leading pillars in the community -- and many of his efforts have centered on local youth. For these causes and many more, Crawford was named Seattle’s nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award.
“It's just way different when you have a kid of your own,” Crawford said. “She's just on your mind all day, and you're just always wondering when you're at work, what they're doing or like, what am I missing? What am I missing out on? There's no better feeling when the game ends, you walk out here and you see your daughter out there, just so happy to see you. It makes your days, even if you have a good or a bad day, it really doesn't matter.”
This is the second straight year in which Crawford has been nominated for the annual honor, given to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
It’s a recognition widely considered among the most prestigious in the sport, above MVP and Cy Young awards and all other individual accolades.
“It means a lot, but it’s not really the reason I do that -- I want to help out kids,” Crawford said. “And it's just about doing the right thing and being a good human being. ... Growing up, I really didn't have older role models like that helping out. So I always told myself when I was little, if I make it, I'm going to do something to give back.”
Crawford has been the Mariners’ leading presence with the club’s Hometown Nine program, which was created in 2020 to create access, remove barriers to participation and build a culture of inclusion by providing mentorship as well as financial and academic support to youth baseball and softball players.
He’s the only founding player who is still with the team since the inception of Hometown Nine, a five-year commitment to nine incoming eighth graders, providing financial, academic, professional and social support to encourage success in their athletic careers and educational journeys.
Crawford has also regularly taken part in the Rizzs Toys For Kids Foundation, aiding longtime radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs, annually volunteering to distribute gifts to children at Yesler Community Center during the holidays. Crawford also promotes and attends the annual Toys For Kids charity gala, which surpassed a milestone $1 million in contributions in 2023 and $950,000 in 2024.
Since 2017, dating back to when he was still with the Phillies, Crawford has served on the board of the Baseball Generations Foundation (BBG), which since 2020, has served 650 players annually by providing resources, equipment and opportunities to participate at all levels. The BBG All-Star event that Crawford leads every year has had 44 players drafted by MLB teams, with an additional 260-plus players receiving Division I scholarships. The foundation has also donated 180 laptops to elementary schools in Los Angeles and Shreveport, La.
“Some of them are about to be in the big leagues, maybe this year or next year, for sure,” Crawford said. “And just seeing that is really gratifying, for sure.”
And recently, Crawford and his wife, Kathy, have also led the work done by Mariners families in the “Seattle Angels” program, which serves over 20 girls in foster care each season. Each girl is connected to a Mariners family and taken back-to-school shopping for clothes and supplies that reflect the style and preferences of each individual student. They’re also invited to a game in a suite.
Crawford believes that, one day when she’s old enough, Korra will look back on her father’s accomplishments both on and off the field. But above all, he wants to lead by example.
“I really don't think it's about the award,” Crawford said. “I think it's about the lessons we teach our kids. At the end of the day, just being a kind human being, being respectful and just trying to help someone in need.”