There's no doubt that Ernie Clement has established himself as part of the Toronto Blue Jays and the greater Toronto community, especially since the 2025 postseason. His work on and off the field earned him new hardware before the Blue Jays' series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Toronto announced Clement as the team's Heart and Hustle Award winner for the second consecutive season. Each of the 30 teams names its own winner, voted on by the MLB Players Alumni Association, before an overall winner is picked from that pool in November. Clement previously won the Blue Jays' award last year after a career year in Toronto.
The 30-year-old is in his fourth season with the Blue Jays and earned his first All-Star selection in 2026, a nod to the steady, high-contact game that has made him a fixture around the infield. Since returning from the All-Star break, Clement is slashing .244/.277/.333 with a .610 OPS, one home run and 16 RBIs.
Toronto enters the series against Philadelphia at 54-62, sitting in last place in the American League East, in what will be the final meeting of the season between the two clubs. Right-hander Jose Soriano, acquired from the Angels earlier this week, gets the ball for the Blue Jays and opposes Zack Wheeler when the series opens Friday at Citizens Bank Park.
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Even in a completely different position Toronto is this season compared to 2025, Ernie Clement's presence on and off the field matters just as much, especially with the Blue Jays fighting to stay relevant in the season's final two months.
