NEW YORK -- J.P. Crawford put himself in the Mariners’ record book during Wednesday’s 9-6 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He played in his 787th game as the team’s shortstop, breaking the previous mark held by Alex Rodriguez.
Crawford is in his seventh season with the Mariners. He can’t believe he has been with the team that long and now holds the record.
“I’m just honored and blessed to take that position every night and [not] take it for granted,” he said. " … They gave me a chance over here right away. I capitalized on it. I didn’t want to take any chances. I just went out there and played hard every day. To this day, I’m doing the same thing.”
Crawford is having a season to remember. He has a slash line of .287/.386/.387 with seven homers and 32 RBIs from the leadoff spot. That seventh dinger occurred in the third inning of Wednesday’s game, a solo shot off right-hander Cam Schlittler to cut the Mariners' deficit to 3-1.
“He has been so steady for us at a position that is a demanding one for sure,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “J.P. has been so solid defensively, and what he has done offensively -- he has been on base all season long. He has swung the bat well. He is a big part of the word 'traffic' that we use a lot. He is at the center of it. He has had a great season for us.”
While he is best known as a member of the Mariners, Crawford started his Major League career with the Phillies. By the time he was traded to Seattle on Dec. 3, 2018, Crawford was looking for a fresh start. He wasn’t having fun nor did he feel he could be himself.
But it was a different story in Seattle, where he has felt comfortable. Dee Strange-Gordon and Kyle Seager helped him enjoy the game again, but it was more than simply loving the game of baseball. Crawford grew his hair and beard out -- and, at first, he couldn’t believe that the Mariners allowed J.P. Crawford to be J.P. Crawford. Seven seasons since that trade, nothing has changed. It’s business as usual.
“They just took me under their wing and showed me how baseball should be played, and how [fun it could be]. They got me to enjoy the fun of baseball,” Crawford said. " … When I got over here, they preached to be yourself. Some organizations don’t allow you to be yourself. For you to [play well], you have to be comfortable out there.”
In the seven years in Seattle, Crawford has a slash line of .252/.344/.371 to go with a 2020 Gold Glove Award. He said helping the Mariners make the playoffs in 2022 was his best moment thus far. Seattle ended up beating the Blue Jays in the American League Wild Card Series before losing to the Astros in the AL Division Series.
“Making the playoffs -- by far -- is the best time I had in baseball,” he said.
Crawford is 30 years old, and jokingly said he felt old because Cole Young and Ben Williamson are each in their first year in the big leagues.
“They were born in 2010, it feels like," Crawford said. "That makes me feel really old."
Young, actually born in 2003, is currently Crawford’s double-play partner. In fact, it was Young who cut the Yankees' lead to three in the seventh inning, when he hit his first Major League home run -- a two-run shot over the right-center-field wall. Young, the Mariners’ No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, plans to give the special ball to his father, who was in attendance.
“It definitely felt good to get one finally," Young said. "Luckily, it went out."
Like Strange-Gordon and Seager did for Crawford, Crawford is paying it forward by giving Young advice. What’s the biggest thing the pupil has learned from the mentor?
“Slowing the game down," Young said. "Trust your instincts. Go out and just give it your all every game."