Mariners shortstop JP Crawford landed on the 10-day IL with a right hand contusion, and his backup was scratched with back tightness an hour before first pitch.
The Seattle Mariners placed shortstop J.P. Crawford on the 10-day IL on Monday with a right hand contusion which was retroactive to Saturday after being hit by a fastball from Detroit Tigers’ starter Framber Valdez on Friday. A timeline for his return isn’t clear as he remains in a lot of pain, but he’ll stay with the club through their seven-game road trip.
Then an hour before the first pitch on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles, Crawford’s backup, rookie Colt Emerson, was scratched due to back tightness, which threw a curveball in as the third baseman had been filling in at shortstop.
That thrust Cole Young into his first start at shortstop, moving him over from second base where Ryan Bliss takes over. Young only has two innings of MLB experience at the position.
To read more about the roster moves and how they’ll account for the injury hits, here is the full story from Mariners Roundtable writer Teren Kowatsch.
It was a double blow, as Emerson has been a strong, consistent hitter, slashing 242/.319/.548 with a .867 OPS, four homers, one triple, and five doubles. The loss of Crawford as their leadoff man is just as significant, as Crawford has a .228/.356/.409 with a .765 OPS and 10 homers.
So, Young has slotted in at leadoff for the second time in his career and will remain there until either are able to return.
And while the best ability is availability, Young has concerningly played every single inning through the team’s first 67 games, so they might want to find him a rest day – something that could prove rather difficult.
It really tests Seattle’s depth across a three-city road trip.
