With opening day on the horizon, the Seattle Mariners find themselves in a bit of a pickle at shortstop due to J.P. Crawford's ongoing shoulder issues throughout spring training.
Friday's lineup against the Guardians offered a glimpse into the Mariners' contingency plan if Crawford isn't ready for the start of the season. For the first time this spring, Cole Young took the field at shortstop. Typically a second baseman, Young shifted over, while Leo Rivas handled second base duties.
Young, at 22, entered camp as the frontrunner for the Mariners' opening day second baseman. Last season, he logged nearly all of his major league innings at second base, with a mere two innings at shortstop.
However, when the Mariners drafted him in the first round of 2022, he was primarily a shortstop, a role he filled for most of his minor league career, starting 238 out of 320 games at the position. Mariners insider Shannon Drayer noted that Young has been putting in work at shortstop during morning drills at camp.
Crawford's shoulder woes have limited him to just seven games and 16 at-bats this spring. Recently, he consulted Dr. Keith Meister in Texas and received a cortisone shot to address the issue.
Manager Dan Wilson mentioned on Wednesday that it's still uncertain whether Crawford will be ready for opening day or if he'll need to start the season on the injured list. Crawford hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since March 11.
As the Mariners navigate these challenges, all eyes will be on how they adapt their infield strategy in the coming days.