Heckman picked up by Mariners

Corby Heckman, an infielder for the IU baseball team, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft Wednesday afternoon. The Mariners selected Heckman in the 32nd round with the 953rd overall pick. \nHeckman was surprised the Mariners drafted him, he said.\n"I knew a couple of teams were interested in drafting me, but the Mariners weren't one of them," he said. "The Mariners called me on Wednesday afternoon and asked if I was still interested in playing, and I said 'Yes,' and they called me back during the 32nd round. That was actually the first time I had talked to the Mariners."\nFormer IU baseball coach Bob Morgan was pleased to see one of his players drafted, he said. \n"We're really excited about Corby getting a chance to play at the next level," Morgan said. "He's a great student-athlete and it's great to see one of your seniors get to realize his dream of playing professional baseball. He's a classy young man and I wish him the best in his career."\nThe next step for Heckman is to leave for the Mariners draftee camp in Arizona in a week. The Mariners will then send him to Washington or have him remain in Arizona camp. \nHeckman, a senior from Spencer, Ind., hit .328 with 33 RBIs and 29 runs last year for the Hoosiers, while playing first, second and third base. Heckman's career totals as a Hoosier include a .336 average, 97 RBIs, and 117 runs. \nCurrent major leaguers drafted in the 32nd round include Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Joe Borowski, Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Bobby Howry, Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kirk Bullinger and outfielder Joey Gathright, second baseman Nick Green, and starting pitcher Mark Hendrickson, all of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Former major leaguers drafted in the 32nd round include Mike Krukow, a 124-game winning starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, Kurt Bevacqua, a 14-year veteran, and Robb Nen, who notched 314 career saves as a Florida Marlin and San Francisco Giant.\nThe last Hoosier to appear in a Major League game was outfielder Doug DeVore, who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004. DeVore is currently in the San Francisco Giants' organization. Other former Hoosiers to recently play in the major leagues include former Philadelphia Philly and Chicago Cub Mickey Morandini, and Kevin Orie, who spent several seasons with the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs.\nThe Mariners 32nd-round pick in the 2004 amateur draft was right handed pitcher Donald Clement. Clement is currently playing in a rookie league within the Mariners' organization.