KANSAS CITY — When J.P. Crawford signed his 5-year, $51 million contract extension the day the 2022 season opened in Minnesota, he admitted that being traded to the Mariners was the “best thing that ever happened to me.”
A top prospect with the Phillies, who selected him in the first round of the 2013 draft, he struggled to find a role in short stints at the MLB level. He was miserable and started contemplating an exit out the game.
But a fresh start with new teammates, who helped change his thinking about himself and the importance of the game, changed his career path. And part of that education pushed upon him by Kyle Seager and Dee Strange-Gordon was understanding the importance of being a part of the community and his role in giving back whenever possible.
On Monday, Crawford was named the Mariners’ nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award.
The award is an honor of the Hall of Fame Pirates outfielder, who tragically died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972, while delivering supplies to Nicaragua following a massive earthquake. It is given to the MLB player who “best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
It’s the second straight year that Crawford has been named as the Mariners’ nominee.
“It means everything,” he said. “We don’t do that for the award. We just do it because we love to help people out, and we love to see kids’ reactions when we help out. It’s about doing the right thing and that’s all that really matters.”
The “we” that Crawford was speaking of was his wife, Kathy, who has been an integral partner in her husband’s charitable endeavors as well as finding her own causes to aid.
Crawford is very proud of being a board member of the Baseball Generations Foundation (BBG), a project that started with fellow big leaguer and California native Domonic Smith and two of his friends. The program is dedicated to providing equipment, coaching, playing opportunities and showcases for players of all levels, particularly those that can’t afford to participate in expensive travel teams or national showcases.
He hosts a BBG All-Star event in California every season, which is a showcase event that has had 44 players drafted by MLB teams, with almost 300 players receiving Division I scholarships. The foundation is also more than just about baseball, donating 180 laptops to elementary schools in Los Angeles and Shreveport, LA.
“To see all the talent out there, and you see all the scouts, and then a couple months later, guys are going to D-I schools, or guys are getting drafted. It’s about getting them to the next level and just teaching on the knowledge, passing it down to the next generation of players.”
Crawford is visible throughout the event.
“It gives kids hope that they can reach the next level,” he said. “You don’t have to look like somebody else. They can be themselves and they can make it, too. They are long days, but they are fun days. You’re out there all day and get to see a lot of talent. Some of these guys that go there are really good.
When the Mariners introduced their “Hometown Nine program” five years ago, Crawford was and has been a willing participant. He was instrumental in the creation of the program, leading discussions about the Mariners’ responsibility to help underprivileged kids in the Greater Seattle area.
He and his wife have also done extensive work with the “Seattle Angels” program, which is a nonprofit group that helps serve girls in foster care. They help connect each girl with a Mariners family, who helps them with back-to-school shopping for clothes and supples and other needs
Crawford has been a large contributor for Rick Rizz’s Christmas charity — Rizzs Toys 4 Kids Foundation. He’s also contributed donations and support for several other organizations, including the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV), Team Okanogan Animal Rescue, The Players Alliance, Friends of Baseball Nike RBI, Mariners Care Foundation and more.