BY DAN GLICKMAN
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman and Brighton High School graduate Ernie Clement became the first Rochester-born Major League Baseball All-Star since the 1950s on Thursday, clinching a spot in the July 14th game in Philadelphia by receiving more votes than any other American League player.
The 30-year-old Clement had 3,232,932 votes in Phase 1 of All-Star voting, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in overall votes (3,341,257). Like Clement, Ohtani automatically earned an All-Star spot by being the top vote-getting in the National League. The next-closest player in the AL was Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (2,911,655).
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
By earning his spot in the All-Star Game, Clement joins a short list of Rochester-area players to take part in the Midsummer Classic. Until now, no Rochester-born player has been selected for the All-Star Game since pitcher Johnny Antonelli made six All-Star Games in the 1950s, his last in 1959. The only other player born in Rochester to earn All-Star selections is pitcher Bob Keegan (1954), although Lima-born Ken O’Dea (1945) and, going further afield, Seneca Falls-born Dave Giusti (1973) have also earned All-Star honors.
Through 78 game this season, Clement is slashing .294/.315/.438 with seven home runs and is tied for the AL lead in doubles, with 20. He’s also tied for third in hits in the AL, with 88, and is fourth in the AL in batting average.
Other players of Rochester interest who have made it into “Phase 2” of All-Star voting – where the top two-to-six players for each position will be pitted against each other for a starting spot – include Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton and Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. The two former Red Wings are in the final group for American League outfielders and National League shortstop, respectively.
Voting in Phase 2 of the All-Star Game voting goes through noon on July 2.
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