For
the week of :
May 5, 2003
Interview with Jeff
Heaverlo
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Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.
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Heaverlo is smart enough
to keep it simple Seattle Mariners' pitching prospect Jeff Heaverlo presents himself as a very intelligent, well-spoken young man. He's smart enough to know that pitching isn't all that complicated.
"On or out in three pitches," replied the 25-year-old right-hander when asked his philosophy on pitching. "Make two of your first three pitches strikes." It all sounds so simple. Yet Heaverlo has had to overcome some obstacles on his way to the Class AAA level this season, his fifth minor league season since being selected by Seattle in the first round (33rd overall pick) in the 1999 free agent draft. The University of Washington product missed all of the 2002 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. "It was horrible taking a year off," said Heaverlo, about his lost season. "It's never nice when you've got something going pretty well and all of a sudden it gets taken away from you just like that." Indeed, the 6'1", 210 pound pitcher's career was on a roll before the torn labrum. After seeing limited duty in his first season after signing with Seattle, Heaverlo posted a 14-6 record with a 4.22 ERA record for Lancaster of the High Class A California League, striking out 159 batters in 156 innings while issuing 52 walks. Heaverlo followed with an even better season in the hitter-friendly Class AA Texas League, compiling a record of 11-6 with a stellar 3.12 ERA. His strikeout to walk ratio improved to a solid 173-40 total. It looked like he would be only a step away from the big leagues until he injured the shoulder. But the 2002 season wasn't a total waste, despite the fact that Heaverlo didn't get to pitch at all after spring training. "The thing about going through surgery is that you have to learn to deal with adversity," Heaverlo remarked about his rehab year. "You learn about what it takes to get healthy and to stay healthy. As for baseball, I learned some things that I needed to do. My mechanics got better." It's also helped that Heaverlo has had excellent instruction from the Seattle minor league staff along the way. "I've had nothing but great pitching coaches," said Heaverlo, about the Mariners farm system, "men that really understand the game and what it takes to get it done." He is especially quick to point out the influence of Seattle minor league instructor Cal McLish. The philosophy of "on or out in three pitches" comes from the former major league hurler. "Make two of your first three pitches strikes," Heaverlo said. "My whole thing is that I need to work quick ... get ground balls and eat up innings. I need to get to the sixth, seventh or eighth inning. That comes back down to on or out in three pitches per batter."
The Tacoma Rainier pitcher also had a good teacher early in his life, being the son of former pitcher Dave Heaverlo, who spent seven seasons in the big leagues. "I had a chance to talk baseball with someone who had experience in the big leagues on a day to day basis," remarked Heaverlo. Heaverlo's father was also the major decision maker in the direction of his son's career. Drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tigers, Heaverlo believed he was ready to turn pro immediately. But his father, acting as his agent, told the Tigers that Jeff would instead be going to college. "At first, I was really pissed," said Heaverlo. "I was really upset that he would make that decision without talking to me. But looking back, I went to college and I got smarter, I got stronger, my stuff improved. I was facing better competition day in and day out." Heaverlo believes that one of the most important lessons he's learning in baseball is how to come back after a bad game. "The other day I didn't have a very good outing," he explained, "I wasn't impressed with my outing. (I'm) learning how to channel my anger ... to where I can take the positives out of it and then do what I have to do between starts to be ready for my next start." He's also working on the command of his fastball, stating, "I need to get better at locating my fastball to both sides of the plates. I need to learn how to elevate better ... how to go to the glove side better ... I've got a lot to learn." After seven starts this season for Class AAA Tacoma, Heaverlo has a 2-3 record with a 5.19 ERA. Heaverlo conceded that the shoulder surgery set him back in another way. "After my injury I was just in tune with being able to throw the ball again," he said. "I forgot how to think about how to pitch again." The good-natured Heaverlo also has a sense of humor, as evidenced by his answer as to what is his best pitch right now. "I'd have to go with the strike," he answered, laughing. "Anything I can throw for a strike." Heaverlo continued, "It kind of changes day in and day out. Sometimes my changeup feels great during a game, and sometimes it's my slider or my fastball." Heaverlo then simplified his whole approach to pitching one more time, stating, "My best pitch is whatever's working that day." --- Bill Mitchell |
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