By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Ernie Clement hit a trifecta: a chance to play a round on the links of an upcoming PGA major, a few nights of sleep in a familiar bed and a return to the stadium where he watched so many games during his childhood.
Most of all, though, the former Brighton standout is getting a chance to prove himself on a day-to-day basis.
Clement made his first professional appearance in Rochester on Tuesday night as the Buffalo Bisons visited Innovative Field to open a six-game series with the Rochester Red Wings.
“I got a little chill walking into the dugout,” said Clement who last played at Rochester’s downtown stadium during a sectional championship game in 2014. “I’m just going to really enjoy it and soak it in.
“Rochester just holds such a special place in my heart. I come back in the offseason. I have so many family members here and friends that I keep in touch with. This will always be home for me. To play baseball here is just going to be really, really cool.”
Playing baseball is what it’s always been for Clement and why he is with the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
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A fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Clement climbed through the Cleveland system and played his first game in the bigs during the 2021 season. In 2022, he started the season with Cleveland and appeared in 15 games (10 starts) during the month of April. He had similar usage numbers in May and June, but by August found himself in Triple-A with the Columbus Clippers.
Clement returned to Cleveland last September making just five plate appearances in five games. The Guardians put him on waivers late that month, and he was claimed by the Oakland Athletics. He appeared in six games with the A’s starting on September 25th.
The A’s released Clement on March 14th. He signed a minor-league deal with Toronto two days later.
In six games so far this season, he has 22 at-bats.
Being in the lineup on a consistent basis?
“I’m loving it. I’m loving it. I just want to play. That’s a big reason why I came to the Blue Jays’ organization. They told me I’ll have a good opportunity to prove myself and hopefully at some point help the big-league team win. For now, I’m really going to enjoy it and play hard, play the game the right way.”
For Clement that means getting a chance at different spots around the diamond. On Tuesday night, he borrowed a teammate’s glove to play left field, his fourth different position this season having also seen time at shortstop, second base and even a night at first.
The experience is not uncommon for the University of Virginia product who also toed the rubber in a pair of games with Cleveland last season.
“That’s kinda been the theme of my baseball career. If they need me to play somewhere, and I’ll do it to the best of my ability. Just enjoy. I just love being out there.”
He has proven himself worthy with the glove. It’s his performance at the plate that kept Clement off the field last season. By late July, he was hitting .203 before being demoted.
In the offseason, he changed his approach at the plate.
“I’m just trying to hit the ball hard. I’m trying to keep the low line drive approach and keep it as simple as body so I can get on base for those guys. It’s way more-simple than it was the last couple of years. I think I over-complicated things a little bit. I’m back to that simple approach and just trying to find ways to get on base.”
Part of his work included returning to his roots and where he started to hone his game.
“I just grinded. I worked on my body. I worked out five times a week, every single week. I’ve got a lot people to thank for helping me do that. Matt Dryer with Diamond Pro, I hit with him pretty much every day. We grinded over there. I feel like I’m in a really good spot.”
A three-time All-State selection including First Team honors his senior year, Clement played in 62 games (61 starts) his freshman year at Virginia helping the Cavaliers to a national championship. He earned All-College World Series team honors and had the go-ahead hit in three of Virginia’s 10 tournament wins. His 12 strike outs in 260 plate appearances ranked fifth nationally among the toughest to retire on strikes.
“He was a pest at the plate,” said Red Wings’ manager Matt LeCroy who first saw Clement in Double-A. “He gave you a hard time. The toolset didn’t wow you, but his mind and the way he played you knew he was going to be in the big leagues.
“He just knows how to play. He came up in a good school. He fights. He’s a competitor. Things that are kind of lost in the game, he’s still got ‘em. Good instinctual player.”
Clement is one of four former Section V standouts currently in Triple-A along with Greg Cullen (McQuaid/Norfolk), Danny Mendick (Pittsford Mendon/Monroe Community College/Syracuse) and Adam Scott (Canandaigua/Columbus).
Clement and Mendick got together for a round of gold on Oak Hill’s West Course (site of next month’s PGA Championship) earlier this week.
“He kicked my butt pretty good,” Clement said. “He was 71. I was 73.”
Though three years apart in school, Clement and Mendick played American Legion together for Rayson Miller.
“Guys like Danny, myself, (Chris) Bostick we paved the way. It’s so cool. There are so many talented athletes and baseball players in Rochester. It’s an amazing place and an amazing community.”
As for his lodgings this week.
“I slept in my bed at my grandma’s last night. I got a good night’s sleep there. It was really nice to just kinda hang out. Wake up, have breakfast and just kinda chill out. I’m not staying at the team hotel. I’m staying at home.
“I should have had her drop me off at the field today. That would have been perfect because my parents and my grandma at all my baseball games growing up, so it would have been right.”
If all is right, Clement will wear a Blue Jays’ uniform before the end of the season.
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