Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement has left a lasting impact since breaking out in 2025, continuing his success into 2026, batting .285 with nine home runs, 38 RBIs and 48 runs scored.
He's been one of the lone bright spots for a Toronto team that entered Thursday at 54-61, stuck in last place in the American League East and all but out of postseason contention nearly a year removed from reaching a World Series.
That 2025 October run in Toronto is why Clement's reaction ahead of Thursday's game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs is even greater. The Blue Jays dealt longtime starter Kevin Gausman to the Cubs ahead of Monday's trade deadline, ending his five-year run with the Blue Jays.
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With the two clubs meeting for the first time since for a makeup game, there was a chance that Gausman could take the mound against his former club.
When told that Gausman's start was pushed back to Friday, Clement made clear how relieved he was to hear the news, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.
"Oh, thank God," Clement said. "That would have been horrible. That's why I was like, it's too soon. I don't want to face the guy that we just traded, like one of our boys."
Guasman earned two All-Star nods and finished third in Cy Young voting during his 2023 campaign, being a central part of the Blue Jays' run to the 2025 World Series. His departure was the clearest sign that the club had decided to be a seller at the deadline.
"It will be great to see him. I'm just glad we're not facing him," Clement said.
