Blue Jays' Ernie Clement impresses in positional debut for Team USA
Photo credit: Toronto Blue Jays - x.com
Team USA manager and former Toronto Blue Jay Mark DeRosa had to get creative to keep Ernie Clement's bat in the lineup, placing him in a position he had never played before.
As the Toronto Blue Jays continue preparing for Opening Day, Ernie Clement has been away from the club this week because he joined Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.
The tournament will not interfere with his availability for the start of the MLB season, and it offers him a valuable opportunity to face elite international competition.
Still, with Team USA boasting one of the most stacked rosters in the WBC, it was initially unclear how Clement would fit into the picture. There was a possibility he might be limited to a bench role.
The infield alone features three All-Stars, Alex Bregman, Bobby Witt Jr., and Gunnar Henderson, each bringing significant offensive firepower.
Clement makes outfield debut against the Colorado Rockies
In Wednesday's exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies, USA manager Mark DeRosa made an unexpected move.
He put Clement in left field, batting eighth in the lineup, marking the first time in his professional career he had played the outfield.
The 29-year-old quickly made an impact. In the top of the second inning, Clement delivered a gritty RBI single, the kind of tough at-bat Blue Jays fans have grown accustomed to seeing from him.
This is Ernie Clement personified. Gets the bat to 99 up and above the zone, and legs out an infield single. Dude's just a ballplayer.
He also flashed his defensive instincts in his new role, making a sliding catch in left field on a ball hit by Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros in the bottom of the inning.
ERNIE CLEMENT. LEFT FIELDER.
The outfield experiment could provide Clement with more opportunities to see the field during the tournament, giving him meaningful experience he can bring back to Blue Jays camp once the WBC concludes.
Clement is entering his fourth season with Toronto in 2026, and the organization will have him under team control for three more years.
He has become one of the Blue Jays' most successful reclamation stories.
After signing a minor-league deal with the club in 2023, Clement has steadily worked his way into a valuable role.
His rise from organizational depth to postseason contributor, has reshaped how the Blue Jays view his long-term value.
The way things are going, Clement could emerge as one of the most impactful utility players in baseball this season.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 5|101 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Ernie Clement impresses in positional debut for Team USA Do you think the Toronto Blue Jays will ever use Ernie Clement in the Outfield? | ||
| Yes | 25 | 24.8 % |
| No | 55 | 54.5 % |
| Too early to tell | 21 | 20.8 % |
| List of polls | ||