Ernie Clement’s 2026 season with the Toronto Blue Jays was a mix of both worlds. He started the year on a high note, building on the momentum he had during the 2025 postseason run where he set records for most hits in a single postseason.
As a result, Toronto fans voted him into the All-Star Game as the American League’s leading vote-getter, becoming the first player selected for the AL roster.
However, the second half told a different story. Clement was one of the worst qualified hitters in baseball down the stretch and became a liability in the lineup.
Overall, the 30-year-old finished his sixth MLB season with a .259 batting average, .285 on-base percentage, .649 OPS, nine home runs and 48 RBIs across 158 games.
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Having a utility man available for most of the year has value, but Clement clearly took a step backward from where he was a year ago.
During the end-of-season press conference, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was asked about Clement’s role for 2027 and whether it was in jeopardy.
Atkins clarified that it is still Clement’s job to be the starting second baseman next year, but added that he has to earn it going forward.
That likely means Clement will not get the same leash again if his struggles continue. The Blue Jays could add another infielder this offseason, and if they do, Clement would either be the odd man out or potentially platoon with Andres Giménez, who also plays up the middle.
The pressure is on Clement now to turn it around at the plate and be more of a contributor regardless of the defensive value he provides.
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