There was a surprising sight before the Seattle Mariners’ game Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.
J.P. Crawford, who has played all of his 895 games in the field for the Mariners at shortstop, was taking ground balls and throwing to first base from across the diamond at third base.
It’s not hard to understand why now would be the time for Crawford to try his hand at the hot corner. Top prospect Colt Emerson, thought to be the shortstop of the future in Seattle, joined the Mariners for the first time on Sunday.
“I want to be a Mariner for life, and I think that’s the best way to do it,” Crawford said after Wednesday’s game of being open to a potential position change. “And just always being open to helping the team win.”
While the 20-year-old Emerson started at third base for the injured Brendan Donovan on Sunday and Monday, he moved over to shortstop Tuesday with Crawford getting the day off, and Seattle put him at short again Wednesday after Crawford was scratched from the lineup with lingering soreness in his right triceps stemming from being hit by a pitch Sunday.
Colt Emerson showing he’s ‘really special’ already at the plate
Mariners insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports said on Wednesday’s radio pregame show that the idea of trying out third base came from Crawford himself.
“J.P. Crawford, being the selfless player that he is, is on board with this,” Drayer said. “In fact, we’ve heard he suggested that, hey, if you need me to move around a little bit, I can move around a little bit.”
Per Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Crawford “approached” Mariners manager Dan Wilson about a potential move to third base, and his agent followed up on the idea with M’s general manager Justin Hollander.
On a radio pregame interview Wednesday with Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs, Wilson called Crawford “the ultimate team player.”
“(Crawford) wants to help the team out wherever he can. And if that’s at third base, I think he’s willing to give it a look,” Wilson said. “So he’s just getting some chances, getting some early ground balls over there to take a look. It’s a different spot, obviously different angles, a lot of things to think about and to do differently over there. But I think it speaks to who J.P. Crawford really is.”
While the 31-year-old Crawford has exclusively played shortstop during his eight seasons with Seattle, he made 26 appearances at third base and four at second base in his first two MLB seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He also played in 35 games at third and nine at second while coming up in the Phillies minor league system.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Passan: Mariners’ infield duo has potential to be MLB’s best up the middle
• Brock: Colt Emerson gives Mariners much-needed defensive boost
• GM details Mariners’ concern with Brendan Donovan’s injury
