The 30-year-old shortstop did his damage off of Zach Agnos in the fifth inning, crushing a 1-1 changeup for a 401-foot (107.9 mph EV) solo shot that tied the game at 1-1. Crawford is off to a slow start at the plate this spring, hitting just .238 (5-for-21) with a homer, two RBI and zero stolen bases. He’s expected to hit in the bottom third of the lineup once again in 2025 with Victor Robles handling the leadoff spot, removing any lingering fantasy value that Crawford may have had in deeper formats.

Crawford has gone from an .818 OPS in 2023 to a .631 OPS this year. The good news is that his exit velocity numbers haven’t gotten any worse, but 2023 still looks like a bigger positive fluke than 2024 has been a negative fluke. It’s not a disaster; Crawford is still perfectly fine as a starting shortstop who hits in the bottom-third of the order. He’s just not the star-level player the Mariners want him to be.

Crawford has been on IL since July 22nd with a fractured finger and was originally hit with a 4-6 week timeline, so his return fits the original bill. The veteran should slide right back into the starting shortstop role with the Mariners, and the team needs him. Seattle was tied for the division lead when he was placed on the IL more than 1 month ago, but they are now 3 1/2 games back. A corresponding move has not yet been announced.

Crawford played in his first rehab game since being placed on the injured list July 22 with a fractured finger. The 29-year-old will likely need a handful of games at the Triple-A level before he’s ready to come off the shelf, but he should be back as the starting shortstop — assuming no setbacks — by the end of August.