Why J.P. Crawford's return to form is a game-changer for Mariners

J.P. Crawford’s resurgence in 2025 has quietly become one of the most important developments for the Seattle Mariners’ offense, perfectly displaying the team's new offensive approach.

After a sluggish 2024 marred by injuries and inconsistent play, Crawford is once again looking like the player who helped anchor the lineup in 2023. That season, he broke out with career highs in power, patience, and clutch at-bats, all traits that have returned in full force this April. Now healthy, Crawford is not just contributing — he’s leading.

J.P. Crawford has been quietly elite during Mariners recent offensive surge

Crawford’s 2024 season was a clear step back. He missed time with injuries and never really found a rhythm, posting a below-average OPS and struggling to drive the ball with authority. His timing looked off, his swing was stiff, and his usually sharp eye at the plate seemed dulled.

But this year, the signs of the old Crawford are back. He’s spraying the ball to all fields, drawing walks at an elite rate, and setting the tone in key situations. His early-season production has been huge considering the lack of offensive additions that were made this offseason.

Crawford started the season off slow, but when he started to hit the ball hard, you could see that a 2023-like surge was on the horizon. A healthy Crawford currently leads all MLB shortstops with a stunning 149 wRC+, a stat that adjusts for ballpark and era to show how much better he’s been than the league average hitter. It’s not just impressive — it’s elite.

What makes his performance even more valuable is how it’s balancing out the rest of the Mariners’ infield. While the advanced defensive metrics aren’t gaudy, Crawford has been steady and reliable at shortstop, even making on the most impressive plays you will see this season, no small feat for a team that entered 2025 with questions across the dirt. His leadership and consistency have anchored a defense that many expected to be below average.

Manager Dan Wilson has taken notice of Crawford’s performance, moving him up from ninth in the batting order to sixth and then to first on Wednesday. With a .423 OBP that ranks among the best in the league, it’s only a matter of time before he’s back at the top of the lineup, setting the table for Julio Rodríguez and the heart of the order.

If Crawford keeps playing like this, the Mariners’ offense has a legitimate chance to be much more than middle of the pack.