Bad news announced for Toronto Blue Jays Ernie Clement
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement is in a tough position heading into the final weeks of Spring Training as he is far from having a secured spot.
A couple days ago Clement took a fastball to the face against the Tigers which forced him to leave the game but despite the terrifying play, Clement only ended up having a lip contusion.
Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement in a tough position
Clement had a great 2024 season as he was ranked fourth among third baseman in defensive runs saved with 9 while also finishing as a finalist for an American League Gold Glove award.
The 28-year-old was excellent defensively, ranking in the 92nd percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average. He was also fourth among all MLB third basemen with nine defensive runs saved, trailing only Chapman, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and Ryan McMahon. -Goldberg
Clement's problem do not stem from his defensive game which is definetely at the MLB level but it is mostly his offensive production which is far from great as he only finished with 12 homeruns and 51 RBIs.
The bigger question is whether Clement's bat can be dangerous enough at what's historically been a premium offensive position. He hit 12 home runs, 21 doubles, and stole 12 bases last season. -Goldberg
The Blue Jays do not have a ton of options to replace Clement but their top pick would likely be Will Wagner who has proven to have great potential as a solid hitter in the majors, especially at such a young age.
The only intriguing alternative is Will Wagner, but his ability to handle the defensive responsibilities is in doubt. It's hard to see any scenario right now that doesn't include Clement at third base. -Goldberg
At this point Clement still has the spot but if he continues to struggle at the plate, he will definitely force the team to start looking more towards Wagner who would bring in more offense.
Source: The Score
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