Kay2008 has pretty much hit the nail on the head.

9 hours in a crate is an awfully long time for him to be left in there. At the most, you are looking at about 6 hours being a sort of prime example of how long to leave a dog in the crate (although, dogs do obviously vary).

The playpen is a very expensive option as they can cost a silly amount of money. Make sure you leave him a toy (rubbing your hands all over it to leave your scent) which may occupy him for a little while longer. If possible though, the best option would be to let him out to run around for a bit (say 30-60 mins, enough time for an early morning walk if you're that type, lol) and then put him back in his crate.