SEATTLE -- The Spotify playlist that roared in the Mariners’ clubhouse on Friday night might’ve prompted one to do a double take.
Not for any of the tunes in particular, which are played exclusively after each win, but because of who assembled it -- and that the guy who knows his music wasn’t there.
So maybe it was fitting that less than 24 hours later, J.P. Crawford rejoined his teammates at T-Mobile Park to take the next big step in his return from the right shoulder inflammation that forced him to begin the season on the 10-day injured list.
Seattle’s shortstop was on the field during early batting practice before Saturday’s game vs. Cleveland, going through a light infield workout under the eyes of infield coach Perry Hill and the club’s athletic training staff. The plan for the 10th-year veteran is to remain with the team through the weekend, then if all goes well, he’ll begin a Minor League rehab assignment.
That would likely come at Triple- A Tacoma, which returns to Cheney Stadium on Tuesday for a six-game homestand.
Eligible to be activated on Wednesday, it’s likely that Crawford will be back in action during Seattle’s first road trip that begins Friday and runs through Anaheim and Arlington. That’s long been the target since Crawford visited with orthopedist Dr. Keith Meister in Texas and received a cortisone shot two weeks ago.
"We talk a lot about what a leader J.P. is for us,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said, “and especially, when he's in that lineup and he's going on a daily basis, just what he means up there. So, getting him back as quickly as possible is huge. I think he's put in the work. He's getting there, he's getting ready, and it's really good to see.”
Crawford did not throw during infield work on Saturday, but that was by design to give his shoulder a breather after a heavy workload on Friday in Arizona, where he remained after the club broke camp. He’s expected to go through a more robust pregame workout ahead of Sunday’s four-game series finale.
"He looks good,” Hill said.
After the Mariners chartered to Seattle on Monday night, Crawford spent the next few days playing in Minor League spring games, which are far more flexible than in the Cactus League. Basically, players can take as many at-bats as they want, which allowed for Crawford to accumulate one per inning or eight to nine per game.
He’s already been hitting for over a week, but these reps allow him to regain timing that might’ve been lost, as Crawford played in just seven Cactus League games -- and only three at shortstop.
"Just seeing him swing out here, it looks like the swing is really ready to go,” Wilson said.
In Crawford’s stead, Leo Rivas has manned shortstop for each of Seattle’s first three games and is expected to remain on the 26-man roster when Crawford returns. Optioning second baseman Ryan Bliss, who’s yet to play, to Tacoma will likely be the corresponding move.