By Robert Sherry

Jeff Heaverlo: The Seattle Mariners' Supplemental first round selection (for losing Mike Timlin) in the 1999 draft out of Washington, this 22-ye-old has established himself as the best right-handed pitching propsect in the Mariners system.

Once signed, Heaverlo debuted at Everett (1-0, 2.08 ERA, 9 IP, 5 H,  2 BB, and 9 SO in 3 Games) and finished off the season at Single-A Wisconsin (1-0, 2.55 ERA, 1 CG, 18 IP, 15 H, 7 BB, and 24 SO in 3 Starts). His first full season, 2000, has been a bit tougher but he did post nice numbers in the California League (14-6, 4.22 ERA, 155.2 IP, 170 H, 52 BB, and 159 SO).

Despite his strikeout number, Heaverlo is not an over-powering pitcher like the Mariners top pitching prospect, Ryan Anderson, but Heaverlo does posses a great slider as well as two different fastballs. He needs to continue to have good control of these in order to  have success and to be affective as he advances to the upper minors. This former Huskie should continue to move quickly through this system and could be ready
to make to contribute to the rotation by the 2002 season. He could be a nice addition behind the above mentioned Andrerson and Freddy Garcia in Seattle.