J.P. Crawford

J.P. Crawford's Biography

John Paul “J.P.” Crawford was born on January 11, 1995, in Long Beach, California. His parents, Larry and Beth Crawford, both had athletic careers. His father, Larry, was a four-time All-Star in the Canadian Football League and celebrated a Grey Cup victory with the BC Lions in 1985, while his mother, Beth, played collegiate volleyball. J.P. has two sisters and his cousin, Carl Crawford, had a notable career in Major League Baseball.

J.P. accompanied his elder sister Eliza, a softball player for California State University, Fullerton, to her batting practices, which sparked his keen interest in the sport. He was also heavily engaged in baseball programs for urban youth, such as the Urban Youth Academy and Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities in Compton. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that professional baseball would become his vocation later on.

Crawford commenced his high school education in 2009 at Lakewood High School. He stood out on the school’s baseball team, breaking several records. By the end of his senior year, he held the record for career hits (179), runs scored (162), stolen bases (73), and walks (72). Despite earning an athletic scholarship offer from the University of Southern California, he chose to pursue his burgeoning baseball career and entered the 2013 MLB draft.

Crawford showed a great promise as early as his junior year when Marti Wolever, the assistant general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, spotted his talent while scouting another prospect. The Phillies selected him as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. After he signed his first professional baseball contract, the organization began grooming him as the eventual long-term replacement for former MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Crawford got off to a solid start in his professional career with the Gulf Coast Phillies in Clearwater, Florida, leading the league in batting average and on-base percentage. He continued to shine as he worked his way up through the minor leagues, standing out for his improved plate discipline and notable defensive skills.

In 2017, after a series of highs and lows, including his first significant injury—a torn ligament in his thumb—Crawford earned his promotion to the major leagues, joining the Phillies for a three-game series against the New York Mets. After making a successful debut at third base, he spent the remainder of the season rotating between shortstop, third base, and second base.

In December 2018, Crawford was traded to the Seattle Mariners, where he has continued to make his mark. Following an impressive stint in AAA, the Mariners called him up and Crawford made his Seattle debut in May 2019 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He hit his first home run as a Mariner a week later and has since established himself as the starting shortstop.

Crawford has continued to perform at an elite level, earning a Gold Glove Award in 2020 and reaching career-highs in several categories throughout 2021 and 2023. Crawford had a career-high of hitting 19 home runs, 94 walks, and .266/.380/.438 batting in 2023, gaining him recognition in the American League MVP voting.

Off the field, J.P. Crawford keeps his personal life relatively private. He wed his wife Kathleen in December 2021. His cousin Justin Crawford was selected as the 17th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies, quite the coincidence considering Philadelphia was also where J.P. started his professional career. Despite the challenges and the ups and downs his career has thrown his way, Crawford remains resilient and driven, proving to himself and to the world that he is more than just one of the best teenage baseball players from years ago; he is a bonafide Major League star.