PEORIA, Ariz. -- As the sand in the Spring Training hourglass gets ever closer to running out, with Opening Day just more than a week away, Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford is still dealing with a right shoulder issue that has caused him to miss five consecutive Cactus League games.
While it was thought that Crawford might return to the lineup on Tuesday, when the Mariners lost to the Padres, 9-6, in a split-squad contest at Peoria Sports Complex, he was instead in Texas to visit Dr. Keith Meister so that the club could ensure it was proceeding with the right treatment.
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander indicated that the level of concern with Crawford’s shoulder is “not high” after imaging results came back clean. But with Opening Day looming, the question is whether he’ll be able to start at short, and if not, who the starting shortstop will be on March 26 against the Guardians at T-Mobile Park.
Colt Emerson, the organization’s No. 1 prospect (and MLB Pipeline's No. 9 prospect overall), has gotten a lot of playing time this spring and has been hitting well recently -- he launched a solo home run and later doubled in Tuesday’s game, and overall he has an .854 OPS with a double, a triple, two homers and eight RBIs in 16 Cactus League games.
Might he be the one to start in place of Crawford, if necessary? Or might the Mariners try to go with Leo Rivas should Crawford not be ready?
“Until we hear what exactly the situation is with J.P., it’s hard to kind of weigh those options,” manager Dan Wilson said. “So, we’ll wait and see once we hear, and then we’ll begin to decipher where we’ll need to go."
Emerson, 20, was the 22nd overall selection in the 2023 Draft by Seattle, and has done well over his first three professional seasons, including an .842 OPS across three Minor League levels last year -- High-A Everett, Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma. He hit 16 homers and stole 14 bases in 130 games. In his first taste of Triple-A late last season, he belted a pair of homers while batting .364 (8-for-22) in six games.
And he’s been impressive during Cactus League play, leaving a good impression on Wilson and his staff. His defense at shortstop has been strong all spring, and on Tuesday, he made a nice play in the third inning from the hole between short and third that nearly resulted in a nifty double play.
“The reason that was possible,” Wilson said, “was because the feed [to second] was right where it needed to be. And running away from second base, backhanding it and throwing it off balance on the run in the opposite direction and making a strong, perfect throw … that’s a tough play, and he made it look real easy.”
Where Emerson had been struggling somewhat earlier this spring was at the plate. But as of late, he’s been heating up in that department, as well.
“[We’re] seeing him pull some balls, too, where he’s starting to feel a little more comfortable in the box,” Wilson said. “ … I think there’s some confidence there, too, where he’s able to get the head [of the bat] out a little bit more right now. He’s just getting more familiar, getting more comfortable and I think his timing is just better.”
As far as Crawford’s timing at the plate after missing several games, Wilson didn’t sound concerned. He mentioned that Crawford was able to get a number of at-bats in as the club's designated hitter before being sidelined recently, and that he was hitting the ball the other way, which is a good sign.
Miller throws a full bullpen session
Bryce Miller, who has been sidelined with a left oblique injury and had to cut short a bullpen session on March 11, threw a full bullpen session of about 30 pitches on Tuesday without any restrictions. He reported feeling good afterwards.
The 27-year-old right-hander, who posted a 2.94 ERA over 31 starts in a breakout 2024 campaign, had a 5.68 ERA in an injury-shortened season of 18 starts last year. He has made one Cactus League start this year, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings over which he gave up three hits and struck out one.
“I think the bullpens now are to go as hard as he can,” Wilson said. “And if he feels something, it’s kind of time to back off again. It’s just a matter of seeing that strength continuing to come back for him. I think it’ll be another step forward for him and a step closer to getting back full-time. … The progression has been good. I think it’s been going as planned.”
Given that Miller won’t be ready to go for Opening Day, the fifth spot in Seattle’s starting rotation is up for grabs. It’s essentially down to two candidates: right-handers Emerson Hancock and Cooper Criswell.
Hancock has filled this role before -- in each of the past two seasons, in fact. He was in the Opening Day rotation last year in place of an injured George Kirby and he replaced an injured Bryan Woo the year before that.
While Hancock has the advantage of experience in this situation in his favor, Criswell is out of Minor League options, meaning he could still make the roster as a reliever if he's not in the starting rotation.
Naylor back in camp
First baseman Josh Naylor, whom the Mariners re-signed to a five-year contract in November, was back in camp with the club on Tuesday after playing for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
Naylor, an All-Star with the Guardians in 2024, played the first half of last season with the D-backs before being dealt to Seattle prior to the Trade Deadline.
In 54 games down the stretch for the Mariners, he produced a .299/.341/.490 slash line with nine home runs and an eyebrow-raising 19 steals. For the season between Arizona and Seattle, he finished with an .816 OPS, 20 home runs and a career-best 30 steals in 32 attempts.
In 23 plate appearances during this year’s Classic, he went 4-for-20 (.200) with two RBIs. Team Canada lost to Team USA in the quarterfinal round of the tournament.
Naylor was initially in Tuesday’s split-squad starting lineup vs. the Padres in Peoria, but he was later scratched. He was seen taking batting practice and throwing, meaning he might have just wanted another day before being reinserted into the lineup.