When Seattle Mariners' Bryce Miller, J.P. could return

The Seattle Mariners begin the 2026 MLB season on Thursday night, but they’re starting with two key players missing from their active roster: shortstop J.P. Crawford and starting pitcher Bryce Miller.

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The 31-year-old Crawford was limited to just seven games and 18 plate appearances in spring training due to lingering shoulder soreness, while the 27-year-old Miller got in just 1 1/3 innings on the mound in Cactus League play before being shut down with left oblique inflammation.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Thursday morning and provided timelines for when both Crawford and Miller could return from the injured list and make their season debuts. Here’s what he said.

J.P. Crawford

Hollander said Crawford is closer to returning to action to Miller, and that he’s “hoping it’s a week” before Crawford is back in Seattle’s starting lineup. That could mean Crawford, who stayed back at the team’s spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., joins the team when it goes out on its first road trip that begins next Friday, April 3 against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

“I would expect that it’s possible that J.P. goes out on the road trip with us. It just depends on how it goes for him,” Hollander said. “He started taking at-bats yesterday in Arizona. He’ll transition to taking at-bats with (a Mariners minor league) affiliate over the next couple of days. And just for him, it’s just the reps.”

Crawford hit .265 with 12 home runs, a .352 on-base percentage and .722 OPS in 157 games in the regular season in 2025.

Bryce Miller

While Crawford could miss just a week, it’s expected to be closer to a month before Miller gets on the mound in a Mariners game.

“Bryce needs to have somewhat of a spring training,” Hollander said. “He threw the two innings (in Cactus League play) and then basically had to shut it down at that point to make sure we didn’t do something that was really harmful to him. So Bryce is going to be a little longer.

“I don’t think it’s going to be like June or something like that (before Miller returns), but he needs a spring training buildup. So we’re hopeful that, call it a month from now, Bryce is back and ready to go.”

Miller struggled with injury during the 2025 regular season, finishing with a 5.68 ERA and 1.406 WHIP over 18 starts and 90 1/3 innings. He got into a groove in the playoffs, however, posting a 2.51 ERA and 1.047 WHIP over three starts and 14 1/3 innings.

Though Miller hasn’t seen game action since Feb. 26, his bullpen session on Monday in Peoria – which was his first at 100% effort level since encountering the oblique issue – was very promising. His fastball got up to 98 mph and his “breaking pitchers were sharp,” reported Mariners insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports after watching the full session.

Radio coverage of Thursday’s Mariners season opener on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app begins at 6 p.m. with the pregame show, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. against the Cleveland Guardians.

When Seattle Mariners’ Bryce Miller, J.P. could return

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