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Ernie Clement

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For the English road racing cyclist, see Ernie Clements.

Ernie Clement
Clement with the Cleveland Indians in 2021
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 22
Utility player
Born: (1996-03-22) March 22, 1996 (age 28)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 13, 2021, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.249
Home runs16
Runs batted in76
Teams

Ernie James Clement (born March 22, 1996) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians / Guardians and Oakland Athletics.

Amateur career

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Clement attended Brighton High School in Rochester, New York, where he played baseball and ice hockey.[1] For his high school career, he hit .472.[2] Undrafted out of high school in the 2014 MLB draft, he enrolled at the University of Virginia where he played college baseball.[3]

In 2015, Clement's freshman year at Virginia, he played in 62 games (61 being starts), hitting .245 with one home run and 22 RBIs. He hit .292 in the 2015 College World Series and was named to the All-CWS Team, helping Virginia win their first ever national title.[4][5][6] He spent the summer playing in the Northwoods League with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.[7] As a sophomore at Virginia in 2017, he batted .351/383/.443 with one home run and thirty RBIs in sixty games (all starts), earning a spot on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Third Team.[8][9] In the summer of 2016, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Harwich Mariners where he was named the league's Most Valuable Player after hitting .353 with 59 hits in forty games while primarily playing center field.[10][11] In 2016, his junior season with Virginia, he hit .315 with two home runs and 34 RBIs in 58 games, earning All-ACC Third Team honors for the second consecutive year.[12] In 745 collegiate at-bats, Clement struck out only 31 times, and walked 34 times.[13][14][15]

Professional career

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Cleveland Indians / Guardians

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Clement with the Akron RubberDucks in 2019

Clement was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft.[16][17] He signed with Cleveland and made his professional debut with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Low–A New York–Penn League, hitting .280 with 13 RBIs in 45 games.[18][19] He began 2018 with the Lake County Captains of the Single–A Midwest League and was promoted to the Lynchburg Hillcats of the High–A Carolina League and Akron RubberDucks of the Double–A Eastern League during the season.[20][21] Over 102 total games between the three clubs, he slashed .289/.358/.375 with two home runs, 33 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases, while being caught stealing 10 times, and played exclusively shortstop.[22][15]

Clement returned to Akron to begin 2019,[23] but missed a month during the season with an adductor strain.[24][25][26] At the end of the year, he played in three games for the Columbus Clippers of the Triple–A International League.[27] Over 101 games during the year, Clement batted .269/.323/.331 with one home run, 28 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.[28] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox following the season.[29] Clement did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[30] The Indians added him to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2020.[31] To begin the 2021 season, he returned to Columbus, now members of the newly-formed Triple-A East; playing 33 games for them and two games for Akron he batted a combined .244/.287/.382 with one home runs and 10 RBIs in 145 plate appearances.[32]

On May 30, 2021, Clement was promoted to the major leagues for the first time as the 27th man on the Indians' roster for the second game of their doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays; he did not make an appearance in that game and was optioned back to Columbus the next day.[33] Clement was recalled by the Indians on June 13, 2021.[33] He made his major league debut that same day as a pinch hitter against the Seattle Mariners, striking out in his first major league plate appearance.[34] For the season, playing 40 games for Cleveland he hit .231/.285/.339 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs in 133 plate appearances.[15]

On June 27, 2022, Clement became the first position player to pitch for Cleveland since Mike Freeman on June 29, 2019, and gave up six hits and four earned runs in two innings for the season.[35] He appeared in 64 games for Cleveland in 2022, hitting .200/.264/.221 with no home runs and 6 RBIs. Clement was designated for assignment on September 21, 2022.[36]

Oakland Athletics

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Clement was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on September 23, 2022.[37] He appeared in 6 games for Oakland, going 1-for-18 (.056) with a double.[15]

On December 13, Clement was designated for assignment following the signings of Aledmys Díaz and Jace Peterson. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators on December 16, but never played for them.[15][38] Clement was released by the Athletics on March 12, 2023.[39]

Toronto Blue Jays

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On March 14, 2023, Clement signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.[40] He played in 35 games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, hitting .328/.409/.512 with 5 home runs, 25 RBI, and 6 stolen bases. On May 23, Clement's contract was selected to the active roster.[41]

Despite playing only 661 innings as a third baseman, Clement recorded 10 DRS and was named a finalist for a Gold Glove for third base at the conclusion of the 2024 season.[42]

References

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  1. ^ Ramspacher, Andrew (June 24, 2024). "Balancing success: Clement is latest Virginia baseball star to emerge from a multi-sport background". The Daily Progress. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "All-Greater Rochester". Media.democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "Twist of fate led to sparkling career for UVa's Ernie Clement | UVA". roanoke.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "National Champions! Virginia Wins 2015 College World Series - University of Virginia Athletics". Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "UVa claims first baseball national championship in 2015 | 125 Years of Progress". dailyprogress.com. June 25, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Teel, David. "Virginia's College World Series championship all about culture". dailypress.com.
  7. ^ Schooley, Julie (August 2, 2015). "Rafters bring 9-4 Win Over Bombers - Wisconsin Rapids City Times". Wrcitytimes.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Ramspacher, Andrew. "Virginia baseball preview: Position outlooks | cavalier Insider". dailyprogress.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  9. ^ "ACC Announces 2017 Baseball Season Honors". theacc.com.
  10. ^ "Brighton's Ernie Clement named Cape Cod League MVP". Democratandchronicle.com. August 4, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. ^ "#14 Ernie Clement". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  12. ^ PUBLISHED (June 13, 2017). "Cleveland Indians Draft Brighton's Ernie Clement". Spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Andy Fledderjohann (June 13, 2017). "A Fitting First: Teammates, Roommates Go Back-to-Back in Draft's First Round | UVA Today". News.virginia.edu. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "2017 Indians 4th Rd Pick: Ernie Clement". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Ernie Clement Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Brighton's Ernie Clement, Webster Thomas' Logan Harasta picked in MLB Draft". Democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  17. ^ Anstey, Evan (June 13, 2017). "Brighton's Ernie Clement drafted by Cleveland Indians". Rochesterfirst.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "Our Apologies". Cbs19news.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "A look back at Mahoning Valley Scrappers history".
  20. ^ Rallo, Curt (June 7, 2018). "Cleveland Indians' Nolan Jones and Ernie Clement". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "SS Ernie Clement keeps hitting for Lake County Captains". cleveland. June 22, 2018.
  22. ^ Blum, Sam (September 6, 2018). "How former Cavaliers fared in the minor leagues this season | cavalier Insider". dailyprogress.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  23. ^ Wayne Epps (May 18, 2019). "Former UVA standout Ernie Clement thrives on mix of discipline and aggression at the plate | Sports". richmond.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  24. ^ RotoWire Staff. "Indians' Ernie Clement: Back on IL". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  25. ^ RotoWire Staff. "Indians' Ernie Clement: Returns from IL". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  26. ^ Bournival, Brad. "Back from injury, RubberDucks' Ernie Clement making up for lost time - Sports - Akron Beacon Journal - Akron, OH". Ohio.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "Clippers 6, Indians 1 | Ernie Clement stars in Clippers debut - Sports - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH". Dispatch.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  28. ^ "Ernie Clement draws comparisons to ex-Indians infielder John McDonald in second big-league training camp". cleveland. February 20, 2020.
  29. ^ Norris, Josh. "2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced". www.baseballamerica.com.
  30. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  31. ^ Franco, Anthony (November 20, 2020). "Indians Select Five Players To 40-Man Roster". MLB Trade Rumors.
  32. ^ "Rays set rosters for four minor-league teams". Tampa Bay Times.
  33. ^ a b "Transactions". MLB.com.
  34. ^ Maiorana, Sal (June 15, 2021). "Brighton's Ernie Clement singles for his first major league hit Tuesday night". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  35. ^ Vadaj, Rachel (June 27, 2022). "Utility player to pitcher: Ernie Clement takes the mound for the Guardians". Cleveland 19. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  36. ^ McDonald, Darragh (September 21, 2022). "Guardians Designate Ernie Clement, Select Will Brennan". MLB Trade Rumors.
  37. ^ "A's claim INF Clement from Cleveland; recalled LHP Selman from Las Vegas". MLB.com. September 23, 2022.
  38. ^ "A's reach two-year contracts with Aledmys Diaz, Jace Peterson". Associated Press. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  39. ^ "Athletics' Ernie Clement: Released by Oakland". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  40. ^ "Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Inks minors deal with Toronto". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  41. ^ "Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Added to roster". CBSSports.com. May 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  42. ^ Harrigan, Thomas; DeRosa, Theo (October 15, 2024). "Here are all of this year's Gold Glove Award finalists". MLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
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