Seattle Mariners 2020 Review/2021 Preview – Middle Infield
J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners.
J.P. is long at short(stop)
J.P. Crawford began the season as the Seattle Mariners number one shortstop. Aside from a short stint on the bereavement list in mid-September (11-16), he played in almost every game this year.
Crawford has played stellar defense, committing only three errors in 2020. According to BaseballReference.com, he led the American League in Total Zone Runs and Range Factor (putouts+assists/games). Also, Crawford was fourth with a .984 fielding percentage.
Crawford got off to an excellent .393 batting average in the eight July games. He started the year batting second, but when Long wasn’t hitting, Crawford moved to the leadoff spot. His hot hitting carried through to mid-August then went into a decline. After August 13th, Crawford hit .233 with a .621 OPS. That dropped his overall average on the year to a respectable .255.
Going into next season, Crawford will be the Mariners shortstop. He will have to work on his consistency at the plate if he wants to keep that leadoff job. It would be nice if he hit between .250 and .275 and got on base at a .350 clip.
Just in case
When Crawford needs a day off on occasion next year, Dylan Moore will be Servais’ choice to fill in. If Crawford went out long term, Donovan Walton, the Seattle Mariners #25 prospect, would probably come up from Triple-A Tacoma. Walton got a brief taste of the Majors this season, appearing in five games. A good fielder, he hit only .154 in 13 at-bats. That’s something for him to work on next season in the minors.