J.P. Crawford, the MVP of the Seattle Mariners
J.P. Crawford, the MVP of the Seattle Mariners
J.P. Crawford's unflappable consistency has stood out all season in a roller coaster season for the Mariners. On the heels of an offseason where many wanted him replaced, Crawford has answered back.
11 years 300 million. 7 years 175 million. 11 years 280 million. 6 years 200 million. Those contracts were handed out last offseason to the big four shortstops, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts, and Carlos Correa. As these contracts were handed out, Mariner fans everywhere clamored for upgrades up the middle and seemed willing to cast out shortstop and team captain J.P. Crawford for a more prominent name.
Crawford signed a 5 year 51 million dollar extension in April of 2022, and he has been better than every damn one.
The Long Beach native suffered a few nagging injuries that hampered his production, stumbling to a 104 wRC+ after a scorching hot April. Crawford’s walk rate increased from 2021 to 2022 but his batting average dropped 30 points and his slugging dropped 40 points. His OPS slumped to just .675 to end the campaign, calling questions to the front office about a potential upgrade at shortstop.
Crawford went to work, getting his body healthy and trying out a new hitting coach. The 28 year old infielder called upon Tanner Stokey and the boys at Driveline to re-tool his swing. He now spends his offseasons in Seattle, making it possible to train at the Kent-based facility.
Stokey was my hitting trainer at Driveline during my playing days, so even though I may have been biased I had high expectations for Crawford’s development.
Driveline’s assessment process revealed some issues in his load and stride, putting himself in difficult positions to hit the ball hard consistently and maintain bat speed. Crawford also had some bat path issues, swinging down at the ball too often. Stokey and his staff went to work, addressing each issue with the ultra-athletic Crawford.
He took things in stride, and his elite athleticism started to show up more and more with each rep and attempted change.
The Seattle shortstop has always been a scrappy hitter, one with the ability to control the strike zone and let the ball get deep. Driveline’s goal was not to rob him of those strengths but to have them as a backup plan for hitting the ball hard in the air.
His bat speed jumped big time in his time in Kent and from the moment he took the field in Peoria, it was clear something was different. The ball was coming off his bat with more authority, a great sign for the Seattle captain.
Crawford has posted a 128 wRC+ in 2023, good enough for second in all of baseball for qualified shortstops. His 15 percent walk rate leads all qualified shortstops, and his .408 slugging percentage has walloped his 2022 output.
His defense has received mixed reviews. Most advanced metrics reflect poorly on Crawford’s defensive ability, even though the eye test suggests he is quite good.
No matter what the numbers say, the 28 year old has shown up in a big way for the Mariners. Over the last week, he has made two ridiculous plays to save runs in big situations, including his game-winning catch against the Red Sox.
His ability to rise to the occasion along with his presence in the clubhouse has made him the heartbeat of this team, one of the hottest teams in baseball. Early on in the season amidst struggles from Julio Rodriguez, Manager Scott Servais leaned on Crawford to step into the leadoff spot.
His consistency and .379 OBP have been a major source of stability for an offense that has struggled most of the season until recently. In the past, a leadoff homer would be an absolutely stunning feat for the light-hitting shortstop. Sunday’s leadoff homer gave him 10 for the season, a new career high.
J.P. Crawford could have mailed it in and settled for the player he has been for Seattle, but instead has transformed his profile. He may not be a 300-million-dollar player, but he has sure proved a lot of people wrong this year. I have been told there is still a ton more for Crawford to unlock in his swing and offensive potential, a tantalizing thought for 2024.
The best may be yet to come for J.P. Crawford, the captain and MVP of the 2023 Seattle Mariners.