Football
Associated Press 19y

Mariners sign first-round pick Clement

SEATTLE -- Jeff Clement would stay up late as a kid and
listen to Seattle Mariners games. He wore No. 24 in high school
because Ken Griffey Jr. was his favorite player.

Clement, the No. 3 overall pick in June's draft, signed with the
Mariners on Tuesday. He will be sent to Class-A Everett to start
his professional career.

"I grew up a Cubs fan, being right by Chicago, but the Mariners
became big for me," said the native of Marshalltown, Iowa.

"To know it was Seattle with the third overall pick, I couldn't
have scripted it better," he said. "As exciting as that day was,
this is even better."

Clement, from USC, led the Trojans this season with a .348
average, 15 home runs, 54 RBIss, 17 doubles, 44 walks and a .472
on-base percentage. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound, left-handed power
hitter is expected to be an excellent match for Safeco Field, with
its right-field foul pole just 327 feet away.

"Obviously, we are very pleased to get Jeff signed," Mariners
vice president of scouting Bob Fontaine said. "We believe this is
a kid with a very high top side. I like how he swings the bat, and
he has all the tools to be a fine defensive catcher."

The 21-year-old Clement hit 46 homers at USC to rank second on
the school's career list, trailing only Mark McGwire (54). He was
the Pac-10's freshman of the year in 2002 after hitting .298 with
21 homers and 53 RBIss.

Clement helped the Trojans reach the NCAA Super Regional this
past season before they lost to Oregon State, and he was a finalist
for the Golden Spikes Award. Clement also has played for the U.S.
national team the past two seasons.

He was the highest overall draft pick by Seattle since the
Mariners took Jose Cruz Jr. with the third selection in 1995.
Seattle landed a high pick because of its 99-loss season in 2004.

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