Toronto Blue Jays utility man Ernie Clement ready to take next step in 2026
Photo credit: Toronto Blue Jays-x.com
It’s been a long time since the Toronto Blue Jays found a diamond in the rough like Ernie Clement.
A story like Ernie Clement’s, rare as they are, is why the Toronto Blue Jays just keep swinging, keep hoping, keep scraping up players on Minor League deals.
Cast off by both the Cleveland Guardians and the Oakland Athletics, Clement arrived in Toronto without much fanfare.
What the Blue Jays found, however, was far more than organizational depth — they found a core contributor.
A year ago, Ernie Clement was relatively unknown in the baseball world. "It's been a grind." Now, Clement has EARNED a spot with @USABaseball in the #WorldBaseballClassic
"That's a dream of mine. I'm so excited to rep the Red, White and Blue."
"That's a dream of mine. I'm so excited to rep the Red, White and Blue."
While Clement may have already introduced himself on baseball’s biggest stage, his overall impact goes well beyond a few highlight moments.
His value isn’t defined strictly by traditional offensive numbers, and heading into 2026, he projects as one of the club’s most important pieces.
On paper, Clement’s 2025 slash line of .277/.313/.398 (98 wRC+) looks solid but unspectacular.
The advanced metric suggests he was roughly league average at the plate. Yet that evaluation undersells what he actually brings.
He scored 83 runs — third-most on the team — and racked up 35 doubles.
Remarkably, those 35 doubles were tied for the most by any player since 2000 who logged at least 10 games at all four infield spots (first, second, third, and shortstop) in a single season.
His 105 singles also led that unique group, underscoring his consistent ability to put the ball in play and pressure defenses.
Few hitters make as much contact as Clement. He struck out in just 10.4% of his 588 plate appearances — only 61 punchouts all season — and he has previously shown he can dip that rate below 10%.
In an era dominated by swing-and-miss, that skill alone makes him invaluable.
Clement's calling card is his elite defense and versatility
Defensively, Clement was elite. His +10 Fielding Run Value ranked tied for ninth among all infielders in 2025.
At third base, his five Outs Above Average (OAA) tied for third best at the position, while his six OAA at second base ranked tied for 11th.
Whether stationed at second, third, shortstop, or first, he provided above-average defense wherever needed.
Although the addition of Okamoto could shift pieces around the diamond, second base appears firmly within Clement’s grasp following Bo Bichette’s departure.
He was a finalist for the 2025 American League Utility Gold Glove but finished behind Mauricio Dubón of the Houston Astros.
Clement also earned a second straight nomination at third base, further validating his defensive excellence.
Clement's coming out party started with eye popping numbers in the postseason
Then came October. In his first taste of postseason action, Clement elevated his game to another level.
He slashed an eye-popping .411/.416/.562, piling up eight extra-base hits, nine RBI, and an MLB-record 30 hits in a single postseason.
What had once looked like a scrappy utility profile suddenly became a national breakout.
If Toronto gets even a fraction of that postseason production over a full 2026 campaign, they’ll be in excellent shape.
Clement has already proven he can thrive under pressure. Now the question is whether he can carry that momentum forward.
After a true coming-out party in 2025, all eyes will be on whether Ernie Clement can take the next step, and solidify himself as one of the American League’s most valuable all-around contributors.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 17|170 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays utility man Ernie Clement ready to take next step in 2026 Do you think Ernie Clement will finally win a Gold Glove in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 146 | 85.9 % |
| No | 9 | 5.3 % |
| Too early to tell | 15 | 8.8 % |
| List of polls | ||