PEORIA, Ariz. -- The small beads of perspiration on his forehead and dirt-covered shin guards offered clear evidence that young Mariners catcher Jeff Clement had been working hard during a mid-morning pitch-blocking drill.

"I am extremely pleased with his throwing, receiving and blocking," said Mariners Minor League catching instructor Roger Hansen said, "and the more we can do it, the better he'll get."

Clement accepts the challenge because he understands that working hard is the only way to reach his goal of playing in the Major Leagues.

"I'm making strides and definitely am getting better," he said. "I have a lot more work to do, but I'm pleased with the progress I have made so far. The only way to get better is to work hard."

It has been more than five months since the Mariners drafted the 22-year-old All-America catcher from the University of Southern California in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft in June. Clement was the third overall selection.

After a short stint with short-season Class A Everett to remove the rust from a two-month layoff while negotiating his first professional contract, Clement spent the remainder of the summer at Class A Wisconsin, helping the Timber Rattlers reach the Midwest League playoffs. He batted .319, hit six home runs and drove in 20 runs in just 30 games.

The final stop on his first-year-as-a-pro journey is the Arizona Fall League, where he's sharing playing time with three other catchers on the Peoria Javelinas.

"It's hard to get everyone in there frequently," Javelinas manager Gary Pettis said. "For a while, one catcher was out, and another was on the taxi squad, but could play only on Wednesday's and Saturday's. But now, with four catchers, we rotate them the best we can."

The AFL experience for Clement is more about learning how to catch than accumulating impressive statistics, though his .391 (9-for-23) batting average ranked third on the team through the first 10 games. He also had two home runs and five RBIs against pitchers with considerably more professional experience.

"I think we can use this [AFL] as a stepping stone," said Greg Hunter, the Mariners Minor League director. "I'm not sure where he will wind up [playing] next season, but he's improving quickly."

Clement said he doesn't have a timetable for reaching the Major Leagues -- instead, he prefers to leave that up to club officials. But he could wind up catching Felix Hernandez on a regular basis sooner rather than later.

"There is no doubt in my mind that in a couple of years, three at the most, he'll be a big-league catcher," Hansen said. "I guarantee it. His bat is ready now, and it's just a matter of going through the process of learning how to catch, handling the pitchers, throwing to bases and controlling the running game."

"I told our catchers that the responsibility of the running the game is put on them," Pettis said. "When there's a runner on first, he gives the sign to the pitcher whether to hold the ball, throw it to first on a pickoff attempt or pitch out."

And what happens if the catcher looks to the dugout for help?

"I'll give them a 'dummy' sign to make the other team think something is on, but the catcher is the one in charge."

And that is just fine with Clement and the Mariners organization, which is counting on Clement to become as good defensively as Dan Wilson was for more than 10 years and better on offense.

"I like him way better now than when I first saw him in college," Hansen said. "There is no comparison. We all know he's going to hit. And there's no doubt in my mind that he will become a good big-league [defensive] catcher.

"He was a little erratic throwing the ball in college and a little below average in arm strength. I would compare his arm to Danny Wilson when he came over from Cincinnati."

Clement is encouraged by the progress he's made so far.

"When I was drafted, I knew I had a lot of work to do in catching," he said. "It has been only two months, and I feel like a completely different catcher. I feel a lot more comfortable with everything, but I also realize you never stop learning in this game."

Hansen has been by his side virtually every step of the way.

"He's a smart kid and picks things up quickly," he said. "And he loves to work. I'll go out there and beat the heck out of him some days. He'll keep coming back for more and step it up a notch."

Clement smiled and said, "He seems to be following me around, but I'm not tired of him yet. It's all good stuff he's teaching me. He makes you better, and that's what it's all about."

It's that kind of mind-set that assures the Mariners they made a wise selection with their highest draft choice since Alex Rodriguez was the No. 1 overall pick in 1993.

"His work ethic is one of his stronger points," said Greg Hunter, the Mariners Minor League director. "He has a lot of offensive ability, a short stroke that helps him hit for average and he has some power. He can really swing the bat."

The catching aspect of his game still needs some work, and that's where the AFL comes in.