LOS ANGELES -- Brandon Crawford has played a franchise-record 1,616 games at shortstop for the Giants, but he might get only one more opportunity to suit up for his hometown club.

Crawford landed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain Thursday prior to the Giants’ series opener at Dodger Stadium. He is ineligible to play until the final game of the regular season at Oracle Park on Oct. 1.

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Despite the unfortunate timing, Crawford said he intends to return for the 2023 finale, which could mark the end of his decorated 13-year run in San Francisco.

The longest-tenured Giant and the final remaining link to the World Series-winning teams in 2012 and '14, Crawford will be a free agent this offseason and hasn’t decided whether he wants to keep playing beyond this year.

“It’s going to be emotional, probably,” said Crawford, who is known for his stoicism. “You guys know how emotional I typically get. In a way, I guess I’m looking forward to it. Just to have that game. 

“I guess it’s hard to process just because I’ve been here my whole career. It’s not something I’ve really ever had to think about. That’s kind of why I guess I don’t have a whole lot of words for it.”

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A three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, Crawford is the Giants’ nominee for the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award, which annually recognizes the MLB player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

Crawford has secured his legacy as the best shortstop in franchise history, though the Giants seem to be preparing for a changing of the guard at the position he has held down for over a decade.

Marco Luciano, who is ranked the club’s No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, started at shortstop after being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday and is likely to get an extended look there while Crawford is out. Tyler Fitzgerald, another young prospect, also earned his first callup and could be an option there, as well. 

“I know he’s been a prospect [since] he entered the organization,” Crawford said of Luciano. “I’m sure that they want him to be the shortstop of the future for a long time. I’d be happy for him if he is.”    

Crawford, 36, has said he would like to retire as a Giant, but he’s still contemplating his future and wasn’t ready to commit to anything just yet. 

“I’ve had a lot of thoughts about it,” Crawford said. “I don’t have an answer, but there’s been plenty of thoughts.”

The Giants signed Crawford to a two-year, $32 million contract extension following his MVP-caliber campaign in 2021, but he struggled to overcome nagging injuries in each of the last two seasons. He is batting a career-low .197 this year with a .595 OPS and seven home runs over 92 games.

Thursday marked Crawford’s fourth trip to the IL this year. He missed time with a right calf strain, a left forearm strain and left knee inflammation. 

“It was just like a never-ending cycle,” Crawford said. “It was really frustrating. Obviously, my play wasn’t even close to what I had hoped for this year. From that perspective, it was just a really disappointing year.”  

While the 2023 campaign didn’t play out like he had envisioned, the Giants are still hoping he’ll be able to go out on a high note and enjoy what could end up being his finale at Oracle Park. 

“It would mean a lot to Craw, a lot to me and everybody else in the clubhouse and the organization to see him play that final game,” manager Gabe Kapler said.