BY DAN GLICKMAN
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – They both went to the University of Virginia, and they’ve since reached professional baseball, but Toronto Blue Jays utility-man Ernie Clement and Chicago White Sox prospect Casey Saucke spent Saturday back where it all started: Rochester.
“This is such a special community,” said Clement, who is coming off a breakout season where he earned a nomination for American League Gold Glove at third base. “Everybody is just so kind.”
That community was on full display Saturday at the Rochester Red Wings Team Store at Innovative Field, where a long line of fans stood to get autographs from Clement and Saucke as part of the team’s second-straight such “Small Business Saturday” event. The crowd at times extended outside of the team store, as people of all ages came to get various balls, hats, posters, cards, and other merchandise signed and photos taken with the two “585” professional ballplayers.
“Everybody coming out here,” said Saucke. “It’s just amazing to see. It really is such a small world, such a small community we have up here.”
“I can’t believe anybody wants my autograph,” said Clement.
Clement and Saucke are in distinctly different parts of their careers.
The 28-year-old Clement is coming off a breakout season for Toronto. Making the Blue Jays roster out of spring training, the Brighton native played a career-high 139 games (more games at the Major League level than he had in the first three years of MLB action combined), slashing .263/.284/.408 in 452 plate appearances while reaching career highs in hits (114), doubles (21), triples (3), home runs (12- “By far the most home runs I’ve ever had in probably my life,” he said), RBI (51), and stolen bases (12). He was fourth in the American League in defensive Wins Above Replacement (a measure of how much better a player is than the average replacement available from the minors). He also led all AL third basemen in range factor/9 (a stat that helps reveal how many plays a given player makes).
He was one of three finalists for the American League Gold Glove, ultimately losing out to veteran Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros. He admitted he was surprised that he was even a finalist, as he played all around the field this past season.
“I didn’t know if I was even eligible for the third base nominee,” he said, just because I played a lot of short and a little second base sprinkled in there. But, you know, it was a great honor. The other two guys that were nominated are amazing baseball players, and to be in that conversation was pretty cool.”
“I have a lot of positive things to build off of. They gave me a really cool opportunity this season, and I kind of just ran with it. I tried to help the team win as much as I can. That’s all I can do moving forward. Hopefully, that opportunity continues, and if they give it to me, I’ll do my best with it.”
Despite his success in 2024, he knows that there are no guarantees in professional baseball.
“I still got to go out and make the team. That’s always my approach. Nothing is given to you, doesn’t matter what you did the year before, you got go out and do it against next year.”
Saucke, meanwhile, is just getting started and looking to prove himself. After three seasons at Virginia, he was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. It was a whirlwind after that, he said, heading to Chicago’s spring training complex in Glendale, Arizona within days after signing. He eventually made his professional debut for the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, where he slashed .290/.333/.398 in 24 games and 99 plate appearances. The 21-year-old is the 24th-ranked prospect in the White Sox system according to MLB.com’s MLB Pipeline, which notes strengths including a strong arm and solid speed.
Despite his hot start, he knows there’s a long way to go before the majors, even after playing high-level college ball before getting drafted.
“ACC baseball is no joke, and that really gets you prepared for professional baseball,” he said. “Pro ball is one more step up, and you move up every level, and it’s just that much better, it’s just a little bit better and you got to be a little bit sharper.”
The outfielder says that having other players like Clement and Pittsford Mendon graduate Danny Mendick make the majors proves it’s possible for him.
“Seeing them have as much success as they have, it’s encouraging to me and it makes me want to follow in their footsteps,” he said. Like him a Virginia Cavalier, Clement has especially been helpful, talking to him about the UVA program while he prepared for his college career.
It’s all part of a tight baseball community of players, coaches, and fans in the Rochester area. A community that Saucke and Clement were glad to give back to on Saturday.
“Baseball impacts so many people’s lives at every age,” says Saucke. “It’s just a sport that gives so much to the world and so much entertainment, and for Ernie and I, a job. The sport has given so much to me, and the least I can do is give back to other people and represent the community.”
Great role models for young athletes. Work hard and dreams can be achieved. Good luck to both young men.