J.P. Crawford expected to be the ‘leader of the infield’ in second season with Mariners
Each morning, as the Seattle Mariners run through fielding drills on the practice fields at their spring training facility in Arizona, Perry Hill’s voice can be heard echoing through the air.
“Stop it!” the infielders coach will holler each time one of his pupils makes a particularly impressive play on the ball.
“It’s so good I can’t take it anymore,” the 67-year-old coach, entering his 25th season in the big leagues, said with a smile.
Hill, who has coached eight Gold Glove winners with three separate clubs, is shouting the phrase often now, as his infielders, including Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, continue to make strides.
BEHIND THE STORY
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The Seattle Mariners are ready to report to spring training and so is The News Tribune. Beat reporter Lauren Smith will be on the ground in Peoria, Ariz., from the first full squad practice. And our coverage will continue through the final roster decisions at the end of March, bringing fans the latest on the second year of Seattle’s rebuild. Click on the arrow in the top right for more.
Looking to the future
While the Mariners aren’t exactly expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2020, these six weeks of preseason workouts and games will give us a closer look at some of the top prospects — like outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, and former first-round draft pick Logan Gilbert — expected to be key pieces of the club’s future, and some of the young players battling for Opening Day roster spots. We’ll also be able to catch up with the more experienced players — like veteran third-baseman Kyle Seager and ace pitcher Marco Gonzales — already in Seattle’s clubhouse.
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Crawford, Seattle’s second-year shortstop and a first-round draft pick in 2013, is perhaps Hill’s most interesting case study, considering the progress Crawford has made over the course of one season working with the infield guru.
“I was in Miami the last 10-12 years (before coming to Seattle last year), and I saw him when he came up with the Phillies,” Hill said. “No. 1 pick, very talented. But, I think he had so much talent he just couldn’t corral it.
“I think he’s gotten more confident, he’s settled down, he wants the ball hit to him. That makes all the difference in the world.”
DEVELOPING A SHORTSTOP
Crawford, 25, has often credited Hill with saving his career since the two started working together last winter.
They focused primarily on Crawford’s fundamentals — adjusting his footwork, and how he was positioning his body to the bases to encourage more accurate throws — and the improvement was significant.
Crawford committed 12 errors in 93 games with the Mariners last season, but improved as the year progressed, playing error-free baseball the final two weeks of September after returning from a hamstring injury.
Hill talks a lot about the imaginary box infielders position themselves in when waiting for a pitch.
“Wherever they’re positioned on a certain hitter, seven steps in each direction, maybe seven steps in, and you draw that box,” Hill said. “Those are the plays that happen 90% of the time. Those are the plays that we want made every time. You cut down on the number of pitches, have quicker innings. It just saves your bullpen.
“We’re looking for those kinds of plays, and he was really good at that last year. … You have to be fundamentally sound, and those plays have to be outs every time.”
Crawford does a good job of not giving opponents the extra out — and has even made a few extraordinary plays along the way. The spectacular diving stop and off-balance heave to first base last August — now referred to affectionately as “the throw” — immediately comes to mind.
Not much has changed in Crawford’s continued work with Hill this spring, he said — “Every day we’re out there competing and taking our reps” — but he’s still seeing growth.
“The confidence is definitely there,” Crawford said. “It’s been there. It’s never left — even last year. But, this year I feel like I’m not coming in here trying to prove what I have to do. I’m trying to help my teammates and get this foundation started that’s going to help us in the long run.”
BIGGER OFFSEASON COMMITMENT
Crawford played in 21 more big league games during his first season with the Mariners in 2019 than he had during his first two years in the majors with the Phillies combined.
Last season was about getting Crawford acclimated to an everyday role at baseball’s top level after he was promoted from Triple-A in May. This season, the Mariners will look for more consistency in his performance on the field and in the batter’s box.
“It’s such a big hurdle to get to the big leagues — no matter if you get drafted in the first round or the 30th round,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “How do I get there? OK, now I’m here. Now I want a chance to play. OK, now I’m playing. How is that going? You get the immediate feedback.
“The game will tell you where your deficiencies are at. And can I make adjustments? How quick can I get better? And that’s where J.P. is at right now. I think the sky is the limit for J.P. I really do. Why can’t he win a Gold Glove? Why can’t he play in an All-Star Game? He’s got that type of ability. … He can be as good as he wants to be.”
Crawford took all of that that seriously this winter, starting with moving from Southern California, where he grew up, to just down the road from the Mariners’ spring training complex.
“J.P.’s certainly got more confidence,” Servais said. “He’s much more comfortable here. Anytime you switch organizations it’s, ‘Who do I trust? This Perry Hill guy is yelling at me every day, does he know what he’s talking about?’ Those things are out of the way for J.P.
“He’s another guy that’s put on about 12-13 pounds. We asked him to do that and really focused on his preparation this offseason. He’s done a nice job. We saw him take some big strides last year defensively. I would love to see him take some more consistent strides offensively this year.
“The biggest thing with him, he’s more comfortable, he’s more confident, and you certainly see that play out on the field as well.”
Crawford said this was the first offseason he’s consistently worked out, and being just 10 minutes away from the Mariners’ complex made a big difference.
“It’s easy,” Crawford said. “I like it. You don’t have to pack up to move to spring training or to leave spring training. You just leave all of your stuff here.
“It’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’m happy. It’s great.”
DIFFERENCE IN THE BAT
There’s been a smooth confidence in Crawford’s bat early on this spring — whether in games, or when he’s taking batting practice on the back fields.
The sound of the ball off the bat is more pronounced. He’s making stronger contact.
“It’s coming off different,” Servais said. “His intent is much different. The offseason is the time to make a few more mechanical adjustments than in-season. He has made a few in how he’s loading, and you’ll see his setup at the plate is a little narrower.
“He’s taller in the box and trying to handle more pitches within the strike zone. I think he saw how teams were attacking him, and now he’s trying to make an adjustment to combat that.”
When Crawford was promoted by Seattle last May, his average hovered around .300 for his first two months with the big league club before starting to fall off some in July.
“He was killing it, there’s no question about it,” Servais said. “He came up and he got off to a great start. Very consistent. He had a little injury in there. I think he sprained his ankle. He was starting to tail off a little bit before that, and then had the ankle sprain.
“He came back pretty quick from it, but it was hard for him to get going back at that pace again, and I don’t know if that was realistic to expect him to stay at that pace, but he ran out of gas a little bit at the end of the year.
“I think that’s one of the reasons we got his attention on how important it was for him to put on some more strength and a little bit more weight and maintain that throughout the year so he can play through a full season and not have the dip at the end.”
‘THE LEADER OF THE INFIELD’
Crawford understands his role as a central figure in Seattle’s rebuild, and wants to take more ownership of the infield during his second season with the club, after spending his first season getting used to a new club.
“It’s definitely tough for young guys whenever they just break in,” Mariners veteran third baseman Kyle Seager said. “He’s in a position where the shortstop’s got to be the leader of the infield. You definitely hear him talking more (this year), you hear him being more vocal on the field. Even in little drills you can hear him kind of taking charge a little bit more, and that’s been great.
“That’s what you need in his position. He’s got the talent obviously, but him kind of taking ownership and helping direct people around has been huge for the development for sure.”
Servais said the Mariners will encourage Crawford to be even more vocal as they move ahead. It’s not Crawford’s nature to yell, scream and jump around, Servais said, but his competitive spirit is valuable.
“He is one of the most competitive guys in that clubhouse,” Servais said. “He is focused on winning that day’s game, and that rubs off on his teammates and everybody around him.
“Over time, as he evolves and he matures, I think you’ll see more of that take-charge (attitude) and being a little bit more vocal.”
Crawford is making it a priority to help his teammates in Seattle’s young clubhouse this spring feel as comfortable as possible, and promote a good environment.
“The energy is great in here every day,” Crawford said. “Everyone is getting after it. … It kind of feels like (the Mariners’) process of what they’re doing is finally coming alive.
“Hopefully I can be a part of it, and hopefully we can get a good group of guys that stick around for a long time.”
