Despite the heartbreaking loss in the 2025 World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays had a stellar postseason run. A vital cog in helping them get to the World Series was Ernie Clement. However, these star-studded performances came after his college coach called him out for his actions.

“I got to learn and grow up a lot in the game of baseball. If I hadn’t done those things, I would not have been who I am today,” said the Blue Jays star, looking back on his younger days.

Coming through the ranks, Ernie Clement was not the easiest of players to handle. He missed Virginia’s first 2014 fall workout, which was optional. But technically, the word ‘optional’ doesn’t hold much value. It’s like an unspoken rule, even if mentioned as ‘optional,’ you show up if you are serious about your career, but Clement didn’t know that yet.

He instead joined his dorm friends and played intramural flag football. Infielder Daniel Pinero recalled this and said, “The whole team was there.” That moment showed how casual Clement was regarding his baseball career and how different he was from the structured order under Brian O’Connor.

Clement later admitted, “I got in a lot of s***,” showing that he was in a lot of discipline troubles when he started playing.

That rough start carried into games, where Clement’s playful nature confused coaches and teammates. During a loss against NC State, Clement was chatting mid-play while the team was losing 5-3. Coach O’Connor erupted postgame and largely questioned Clement’s focus in the game. Clement stood stunned, facing public criticism in what teammates called “come to Jesus meetings.”

But in the coming days, Coach O’Connor realized that joy drove Clement and said, ” Clement loves to play and have fun.” But these problems were just the start.

The real problem occurred during the College World Series. Clement and a few of his friends were caught with fake IDs during the College World Series downtime. He and his friends decided to use that to get into a bar and have a drink, which was against the team rules and illegal.

Once assistant coach Matt Kirby heard of this, he demanded the fake IDs and then made sure no such thing happened ever again. He made the pitchers run two hours nonstop while Clement fielded relentless grounders under scorching 30-degree heat.

About six weeks after that tough criticism from coach O’Connor, Clement had a defining moment. In a Super Regional game against the Maryland Terrapins baseball, Clement got a clutch hit in the 9th inning, which scored 2 runs and sent Virginia through to the College World Series.

Clement hit .292 across the 7 College World Series games, and looking back at this, Clement says, “I helped the team.”

That one lesson from his Omaha days is still sticking with him. He now shows up prepared regardless of previous mistakes or fatigue. That is what has made him so good at baseball today. With the Blue Jays, Clement’s growth can be seen through his improved performances.

Since his debut in 2021, we have seen a steady rise in his batting average, and that can be seen with his average going from .263 in 2024 to .277 in 2025. With such consistent performances, teammates and coaches began to trust him. And it seems to be paying off.

Ernie Clement is the perfect blend of a baseball player for the Blue Jays fans

Ever since Ernie Clement became a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, he has surely made an impact on the fans. He has become the clear talking point for most of the fans after his performance in the 2025 Postseason. With a batting average of .311 and just 2 strikeouts in the 2026 season, the fans are starting to debate.

What is the debate? It is whether Clement is really making as much of an impact offensively as people are hyping him to.

One side of the fans argues that even with an average like that, Clement has an OPS of just .716, which is bad for elite hitters who usually have an OPS of .800+.

Old school baseball fans say that batting average holds more value, while modern teams lean toward OPS for scoring. League data shows OPS links more strongly with runs, pushing teams toward higher slugging profiles. Clement’s .716 OPS trails elite marks above .800, which limits his overall offensive rating. But his consistent contact creates more chances than the numbers show.

With only 2 strikeouts, he has also shown great bat control, and this approach helps him maintain consistency on base. Defensively, he covered multiple infield spots and earned a 2025 utility Gold Glove nomination.

Because his value is subtle, many analysts struggle to rate him based on the commonly used advanced metrics. Yet many fans enjoy his style, especially during games where constant contact keeps innings alive. Players like him were once praised widely when batting average led discussions.

But things are changing, and the question is what his impact will be worth if he can keep helping Toronto win.