Ernie Clement Bio
Ernie James Clement is an American professional baseball utility player who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians. Clement played collegiate baseball for the University of Virginia, gaining recognition for his college and minor league performances before making his MLB debut in 2021. He set a major league postseason record in 2025 for most hits with 30, contributing significantly to the Blue Jays’ postseason success.
Early Life and Background
Ernie James Clement was born on March 22, 1996, and grew up in the United States. He attended Brighton High School in Rochester, New York, where he competed in both baseball and ice hockey. For his high school career, he posted an impressive .472 batting average. Although he went undrafted in the 2014 MLB draft, Clement chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
He enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he played college baseball for the Cavaliers. Across 745 collegiate at-bats, Clement struck out only 31 times while drawing 34 walks, demonstrating the plate discipline that would later define his professional approach. His time at Virginia laid the foundation for his development as a versatile infielder capable of playing multiple positions at a high level.
Path to Professional Baseball
Clement’s freshman year at Virginia in 2015 saw him play in 62 games, hitting .245/.303/.310 with one home run and 22 runs batted in. He hit .292 in the 2015 College World Series and was named to the All-CWS Team, helping Virginia win its first ever national title. He spent that summer playing in the Northwoods League with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.
As a sophomore in 2016, he batted .351/.383/.443 with one home run and 30 RBIs in 60 starts, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference Third Team honors. That summer, 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 40 games while primarily playing center field. In his junior season in 2017, he hit .315 with two home runs and 34 RBIs in 58 games, earning All-ACC Third Team honors for the second consecutive year.
Ernie Clement Career
Minor League Years (2017–2020)
The Cleveland Indians selected Clement in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft. He signed with Cleveland and made his professional debut with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Low-A New York-Penn League, hitting .280/.315/.343 with 13 RBIs in 45 games. He began 2018 with the Lake County Captains of the Single-A Midwest League and was promoted during the season to the Lynchburg Hillcats and Akron RubberDucks. Over 102 total games between the three clubs, he slashed .289/.358/.375 with two home runs, 33 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases, playing exclusively shortstop.
Clement returned to Akron to begin 2019 but missed a month with an adductor strain. Over 101 games that year, he batted .269/.323/.331 with one home run, 28 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox following the season. 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. The Indians added him to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2020.
Cleveland Indians / Guardians Era (2021–2022)
To begin the 2021 season, Clement returned to Columbus. On May 30, 2021, he was promoted to the major leagues as the 27th man for the Indians’ doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, but he did not appear in that game and was optioned back. Clement was recalled on June 13, 2021, and made his MLB debut that same day as a pinch hitter against the Seattle Mariners. For the season, he played 40 games for Cleveland and hit .231/.285/.339 with three home runs and nine RBIs.
In 2022, Clement appeared in 64 games for Cleveland, hitting .200/.264/.221 with no home runs and six RBIs. On June 27, 2022, he became the first position player to pitch for Cleveland since Mike Freeman in 2019, giving up six hits and four earned runs in two innings across two games. Cleveland designated him for assignment on September 21, 2022.
Oakland Athletics Stint (2022)
Clement was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on September 23, 2022. He appeared in six games for Oakland, going 1-for-18 (.056) with a double. On December 13, he 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. The Athletics released Clement on March 12, 2023.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2023–Present)
On March 14, 2023, Clement signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He played in 35 games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, hitting .328/.409/.512 with five home runs, 25 RBI, and six stolen bases. On May 23, his contract was selected to the active roster.
In 2024, Clement batted .263/.284/.408 while playing second base, shortstop, and third base. He recorded 10 Defensive Runs Saved and was named a finalist for a Gold Glove Award at third base despite playing only 661 innings at the position. In 2025, he batted .277/.313/.398 and played more than 60 innings at all four infield positions to help the Blue Jays win the American League East for the first time in ten seasons. He was nominated for Gold Gloves at both third base and the utility position, but did not win either.
Driving Style and Strengths
Clement is valued for his positional versatility, logging meaningful innings at second base, shortstop, and third base while delivering consistent contact at the plate. His profile as a utility player emphasizes dependable defense, smart baserunning, and the ability to fit into multiple lineup configurations. His willingness to pitch in a blowout and his record-setting postseason contact hitting reflect a player who embraces every role the team asks of him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Clement’s most defining moment came in the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the eighth inning of Game 7, he hit a double off Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan for his third hit of the game, registering his 30th hit of the 2025 postseason. That hit broke Randy Arozarena’s record of 29 postseason hits set in 2020. His 22 singles in the 2025 postseason were also a record, and he finished the playoffs hitting .411 with a .977 OPS, six doubles, one triple, one home run, nine RBIs, and 13 runs scored.
Ernie Clement Career Wins
Ernie James Clement has built his professional resume on consistency, versatility, and postseason heroics rather than traditional win totals in starting roles. Across his major league career, he has been recognized with Gold Glove nominations and set the all-time MLB postseason hits record. His defining achievements came during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 run to the World Series.
MLB Career Highlights
Clement made his major league debut on June 13, 2021, as a member of the Cleveland Indians. Through the 2025 season, he had compiled a .260 batting average with 25 home runs and 126 runs batted in. He became a finalist for a Gold Glove Award at third base in 2024 and was nominated again in 2025 at both third base and the utility position.
Other Wins & Performances
Clement was named the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Most Valuable Player in 2016 after hitting .353 with 59 hits in 40 games for the Harwich Mariners. He earned All-ACC Third Team honors in 2016 and 2017, and was named to the All-CWS Team in 2015 after helping Virginia win the national championship.
Ernie Clement Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Ernie James Clement’s family background are limited in available verified sources.
Personal Life
Public information regarding Ernie James Clement’s spouse, children, and personal residence is not verified in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Ernie James Clement enjoyed a breakout 2025 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, batting .277/.313/.398 while playing more than 60 innings at all four infield positions. His versatility helped Toronto win the American League East for the first time in ten seasons, cementing his role as a key piece of the team’s everyday lineup.
In the postseason, Clement became one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. He finished the 2025 playoffs with 30 hits, setting a new MLB record for most hits in a single postseason and surpassing Randy Arozarena’s previous mark of 29. He slashed .411/.411/.566 with a .977 OPS, six doubles, one triple, one home run, nine RBIs, and 13 runs scored, while playing every inning of the postseason. His offensive surge made him a fan favorite as the Blue Jays advanced to the World Series.
Although Toronto ultimately fell in extra innings of Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clement’s performance established him as a central figure in the franchise’s recent history. In January 2026, Clement and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration with a $4.6 million deal for the 2026 season, signaling the organization’s commitment to keeping him in the fold as the team builds on its 2025 success.