MINNEAPOLIS — While the reports have been positive out of the Mariners’ complex in Arizona, watching the video of J.P. Crawford hitting baseballs in the indoor cages offered some relief and optimism for manager Scott Servais.
His starting shortstop is moving closer to a return from the injured list.
“It looked really good,” Servais said before Tuesday’s game at Target Field. “I do not have a timeline. But he is progressing really well. I’ve texted back and forth with both J.P. and Dom Canzone. Those guys are progressing really, really well. I would suspect we’ll see [Crawford] soon. I don’t have a date. I will not give you a date. But seeing J.P. take some swings in the cage today was comforting for me.”
Crawford was placed on the injured list April 25 after straining his right oblique during batting practice in Texas.
When the Mariners went on the road, Crawford was sent to Arizona to rehab and work out with the staff at the spring training complex. He started taking light swings off the tee last week.
He’s picked up the intensity with each passing day.
“He looked very natural and wasn’t holding back,” Servais said. “It’s just in the cage. The next step is to get out on the field and take some swings there. I would think when we get back home on the weekend, he would be up to swing 100% and see where it goes from there. He’s probably going to have to go out and play a rehab game or two, but we’re very encouraged with where he’s at.”
Canzone has been on the injured list since April 15 after he suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, crashing into the outfield wall to make a catch.
“He’s a little behind J.P., but not far,” Servais said. “I think he’s feeling much better. Again, picking up the activity, swinging and getting ready to go.”
One player who is ready to return from the injured list is right-handed pitcher Bryan Woo, who has yet to pitch this season due to elbow inflammation.
After making his third rehab start Saturday, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing three hits with six strikeouts, the expectation is that Woo will be reinserted into the Mariners rotation on the upcoming homestand.
“He’s ready to come back into our rotation sometime soon,” Servais said. “When we decide to slot him in, it’ll be in the spot that allows him to give other guys an extra day of rest. We’ll see when that time is, but I’m not going to give you a date on that. But he’s throwing the ball really well, he looks healthy and he’s responding in coming back after his starts and feels good. So he’s ready to roll.”
Servais has said often that the team isn’t interested in using a six-man starting rotation so rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock, who started vs. the Twins on Tuesday night, would be optioned back to Tacoma.
If Woo started Friday night vs. the A’s to open the homestand, the rest of the rotation would get an extra day of rest in between starts.
Why is that important?
The Mariners rotation has benefitted from several off days in the early schedule, giving pitchers that extra day of rest.
But starting with last weekend’s series in Houston, Seattle is in a stretch of 30 games in 31 days. The only off day will come after the upcoming homestand May 16, when the team travels east for a 10-game road swing with series vs. the Orioles, Yankees and Nationals.
The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.