How Ernie Clement Clawed Back to MLB With the Blue Jays

Infielder Ernie Clement was DFA'd twice in three months last season. He earned his way back to the big leagues with the Blue Jays in 2023.
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

When Ernie Clement got the call, it was a familiar feeling. 

The infielder had been in the big leagues before. He'd already played in 109 MLB games across two seasons, notching 58 career hits and three homers. But when the Blue Jays promoted Clement from Triple-A last week, it felt just like the first time.

In 2022, Clement was designated for assignment twice in three months, cut loose by the Guardians and Athletics, and sent to free agency. A few transactions washed away entire MLB history. The infielder had to find his way back.

"In a way you’re starting over," Clement said. "But I just used my experiences and my love for the game. I just love playing baseball. That’s why I made it to the big leagues and made it back to the big leagues because I just love playing the game."

Minor leaguers fight their entire careers to get on a 40-man roster. For many, it signals they've made it, or are at least on the very cusp of the big leagues. Getting DFA'd, or removed from that roster, can be career-ending. For Clement, it was a learning experience.

“It’s a tough feeling when you get let go. It’s kind of eye-opening, a little bit of a wake-up call that you might not be doing something right," Clement said. "If you were doing something right, you wouldn’t be DFA’d."

Entering the 2022-23 offseason as a free agent, Clement was focused on improving his approach. In the minors, the Rochester, NY native almost never struck out, rocking strikeout rates under 10% for much of his time as a prospect. But, in the big leagues, those rates jumped to ~15%. With a few mechanical tweaks "here and there," Clement said, he entered 2023 hoping to hone in on the fastball. Do damage on the pitch he knows he can hit.

“When I get it, don’t miss it,” he said.

But, to implement those tweaks, Clement had to find a home, sitting in free agency deep into spring training. With no big league deals on the horizon in mid-March, he was just looking for a spot that would give him plenty of playing time at Triple-A to prove himself, and a big league team that could win.

On March 14, Clement agreed to a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays, and in his first 35 games with Triple-A Buffalo, he was the Bisons' best hitter. He hit .328, struck out just 2.8% of the time, and was second on the team in OPS.

Even still, it looked like a tough hill to climb back to the big leagues. The Blue Jays rostered three second baseman on Opening Day and infield prospects Otto Lopez and Addison Barger seemed ahead of Clement in the pecking order. But Clement kept hitting and a hole opened up.

With Santiago Espinal heading to the IL with hamstring inflammation injury last week, Clement got the call. He was going back on the 40-man roster and back to the big leagues. Just like when he first debuted, Clement's first phone call was to his parents. They understood how hard he worked to get back, Clement said. They understood how uncertain getting back even was.

“Just to get recognized for the hard work and trying to be a team guy," Clement said. "It means a lot, and hopefully I can help these guys out."


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Mitch Bannon
MITCH BANNON

Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon