Jeff Clement

Jeff Clement
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 6
Catcher/First Baseman
Born: August 21, 1983 (1983-08-21) Marshalltown, Iowa
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 2007 for the Seattle Mariners
Career statistics (through 2011)
Batting average	.223
RBIs	14
Home runs	38
Teams
Seattle Mariners (2007–2008) Pittsburgh Pirates (2010)

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Medal record
Men’s baseball
Competitor for United States
Pan American Games
Silver	2003 Santo Domingo	National team
World University Baseball Championship
Gold	2004 Tainan	National team

Jeffrey Burton Clement (born August 21, 1983 in Marshalltown, Iowa) is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. Clement was the Seattle Mariners' first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.

Amateur career

Clement was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa. As a twelve year old, Clement led the 1996 Marshalltown team to the Little League World Series.

At Marshalltown High School, he broke the national high school home run record, formerly held by Drew Henson. He finished his high school career with 75 home runs. Clement led his high school team as a catcher/pitcher to the Iowa 4-A State Championship game in his senior year (2002). Clement was featured in the September 16, 2002, issue of Sports Illustrated as part of the "For the Love of the Game" article. Out of high school, Clement was drafted in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins (362nd overall) due to a poor performance at a pre-draft showcase, but did not sign.

Clement then went to USC, where he starred and also played on the U.S. National Team. In his freshman year, he was named Collegiate Baseball Freshman National Co-Player of the Year, Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year, earned Baseball America Freshman All-America first team, and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American first team honors.

As a sophomore, Clement earned 2004 Baseball America Preseason All-America first team and NCBWA Preseason All-America first team honors, as well as Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America second team honors. He was also named as a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award.

In 2005, he won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher, earned 2005 Baseball America All-America First Team, USA Today Sports Weekly All-America first team and Collegiate Baseball All-America first team honors, as well as 2005 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America third team honors and was a Finalist for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award and named All-Pac-10 for the third straight year.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

He made his major league debut on September 4, 2007, and ended up appearing in 9 games for the season, registering 16 at-bats.

On April 30, 2008, Clement was called up for his second stint in the major leagues by the Mariners. He went 1 for 1 in a pinch hit appearance against the Cleveland Indians. With catcher Kenji Johjima signed to a large contract, Clement spent 2008 playing both catcher and designated hitter.

He was optioned to the Triple A Tacoma Rainiers late in Spring Training 2009.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Clement was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 29, 2009 as part of a 7 player deal and immediately optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

He entered 2010 spring training competing for the job of starting first baseman with Steve Pearce and Garrett Jones.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)