Finally healthy, J.P. Crawford is ready to return to Mariners lineup

NEW YORK — J.P. Crawford told the Mariners he was ready to return to the lineup for Monday night’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.

And while they believed Crawford’s personal assessment, manager Scott Servais and the team’s medical staff wanted to see the shortstop participate in the team’s pregame workout before making the final call on his return.

Crawford took ground balls and participated in the team’s infield workout and then took a full batting practice that included aggressive swings, resulting in a series of homers into the right-field seats before the game, before the Mariners reinstated him from the injured list. Infielder Leo Rivas was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Crawford.

“A lot later than what I expected, but I’m just happy I can join the team,” he said.

Crawford was supposed to be reinstated from the injured list on Friday and play over the weekend in Baltimore. The Mariners wanted him to play in a second rehab game with the Rainiers at Cheney Stadium on Wednesday night and then fly to Baltimore on Thursday’s off day.

That plan fell apart when Crawford came to the plate for the third and likely final time in the game. Lefty Adam Kolarek fired a 90-mph fastball on a 1-2 count that ran up and in, striking Crawford in his right hand and leaving him in serious pain.

“I was really scared,” he said. “It just hurt right away, but we ran some tests right after, so I didn’t think anything was broken. But then I woke up the next morning before our flight and I couldn’t even like grip a ball or hold the bat, so that’s when I got a little scared. It hurt bad, but thankfully nothing was broken.”

Crawford has been on the injured list since April 25 with a right oblique strain and has missed 23 games. But the Mariners believe Crawford could’ve been out longer had he tried to continue to take batting practice after feeling something in his side before a game in Texas.

“I just knew it right away,” he said. “It was just one random swing. I could feel it and it was hard to breathe. It was hard to do anything, even stand up straight. I knew something was up. Thankfully, I didn’t try to swing after that. I think that would have made it even worse.”

Crawford had gotten off to a slow start this season prior to the injury. In 22 games, he had a .198/.296/.302 slash line with a double, a triple, two homers, nine RBI, 11 walks and 18 strikeouts.