Clement’s All-Star Selection
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement has been named an MLB All-Star, securing the most fan votes among American League players. This achievement grants him an automatic spot on the AL roster for the midsummer classic. Clement’s selection marks his first career All-Star appearance, a significant milestone in his career.
Clement received a total of 3,232,932 votes, positioning him as the AL’s second baseman. This vote count surpassed other notable players in the American League, including Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who garnered 2,911,655 votes, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge with 2,567,404 votes, and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who received 2,511,587 votes. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. also trailed Clement with 2,513,492 votes.
Despite leading the American League in votes, Clement’s total was slightly behind Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who led all players with 3,341,257 votes. Ohtani’s selection was a more anticipated outcome. Clement acknowledged Ohtani’s standing, stating, “It’s tough coming in second place to the Dodgers again. That’s my first thought. But he’s one of the greatest players to ever play this game.”
Clement expressed his appreciation for the support, noting, “I don’t mind being in the same conversation as these guys. It’s pretty funny to me, honestly, and it’s really cool. It’s a really cool honour. I feel the love from Canada and all Blue Jays’ fans, and it means a lot.”
Career Resurgence and Blue Jays’ Representation
Clement’s journey to the All-Star Game follows a notable resurgence in his career over the past three seasons with the Blue Jays. Originally drafted by Cleveland in 2017, he made his MLB debut in 2021. After struggling with the Guardians and a brief period with the Oakland Athletics, Clement was signed by the Blue Jays during spring training in the 2023 season.
His bat-to-ball ability and defensive versatility proved to be a strong fit for Toronto. This season, Clement has maintained a .292 batting average, along with seven home runs and 28 RBIs across 77 games. He also leads the league with 20 doubles and boasts a .292/.313/.437 slash line. Over the past three seasons, he has played in 373 games and accumulated 110 extra-base hits with a .276 batting average.
During the Blue Jays’ playoff run last season, Clement participated in 18 games and set a major league record for a single postseason with 30 hits.
The Blue Jays have strong representation in the All-Star voting, with finalists at every available position following Phase 1. These finalists include catcher Alejandro Kirk, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, shortstop Andrés Gimenez, outfielders Daulton Varsho and Jesus Sanchez, and designated hitter George Springer. The AL All-Star team will be managed by Blue Jays skipper John Schneider, as the Blue Jays advanced to the World Series last season.
Upcoming All-Star Events
The All-Star Game is scheduled to take place on July 14 in Philadelphia. The selection process for the remaining All-Star spots involves a second phase of voting.
Phase 1 saw the top two finishers at each position (with the exception of AL second baseman and NL designated hitter) and the top six outfielders advance. Phase 2 voting is set to begin on Monday, June 29. During this phase, the starters for each position will be determined. Following this, managers will fill the remaining bench spots and select pitchers for both teams. The results of Phase 2, including all the starters, are expected to be revealed on Thursday, July 2.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
