Mariners Top Draft Pick Is College Catcher

With the number three overall pick in the annual Major League Baseball draft, the Mariners selected Jeff Clement, a catcher from USC.

Clement hit .347 for USC this year, with a .606 slugging percentage. Hot. Over at USS Mariner, they are happy.

Let's hope Clement's as good as the last college catcher the Mariners selected in the first round of the draft, Jason Varitek. Traded to Boston in one of the worst trades in Mariner history, the Red Sox captain is the likely 2005 All-Star game starter.

You can watch Clement play on TV Saturday, when the Trojans take on Oregon State in the NCAA baseball championships. The time of the Super Regional game, which will be televised on ESPN, has yet to be determined.