J.P. Crawford made an immediate impact upon his return to the Seattle Mariners lineup. After sitting out Wednesday’s game against the New York Yankees due to shoulder tightness, Crawford hit a home run on the very first pitch he faced in the Vedder Cup opener against the San Diego Padres. His 357-foot leadoff blast into Petco Park’s right-field seats gave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead.
This leadoff homer marked the 14th of Crawford’s career and his second this month, having previously homered against the Texas Rangers on May 3. In addition to his power at the plate, Crawford made headlines earlier in the week when he delivered an 11th-inning walkoff single to secure a 2-1 victory over the Yankees. He is currently slashing .275/.380/.387 this season and ranks third in on-base percentage among qualified MLB shortstops, with four home runs and four doubles to his name.
Crawford’s home run came off Stephen Kolek, a former Mariners prospect who had just made his MLB debut earlier in May following a successful stint in the Mariners’ farm system and a strong start with the Padres. Kolek’s performance had been impressive, as he threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his debut and then followed it up with a shutout against the Colorado Rockies before allowing Crawford’s homer.
The Mariners are showing a promising start this season, as highlighted by Crawford’s recent performances and resilience, which are both crucial as they respond to injury challenges within their pitching staff. As the team continues to find its rhythm, fans can look forward to exciting developments in the coming weeks.