Ernie Clement wins Blue Jays’ 2026 Coronary heart and Hustle Award

Within the midst of a career-best 12 months on the plate, Clement at present has profession highs in batting common (.287) and slugging share (.415) whereas including 9 residence runs and 38 RBIs, incomes his first all-star look.

The Rochester, N.Y., native additionally has a penchant for operating out performs on the bases, pushing by accidents, and making the additional effort on defensive performs.

He most lately made a game-saving play towards the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, leaping to catch a gentle liner to centre that in any other case would have been a walk-off base hit.

After six years within the minors and one other three bouncing up and down between affiliated ball and MLB, he acquired his first full-time taking part in alternative with the Blue Jays in 2024 at age 28 and ran with it.

Toronto acquired Clement after he was launched by the then Oakland Athletics — the last-placed group within the American League on the time — and signed him to a minor league contract forward of the 2023 season.

He did not break by immediately, spending the vast majority of the 12 months with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons, however posted a .348/.401/.544 slash line within the minors to go together with 11 homers and 58 RBIs, and hit for a .380 common and .885 OPS in his temporary time with the Blue Jays that season.

But it surely wasn’t till 2025 that Clement really made a reputation for himself, taking part in by a fractured finger and stitches in his shin as he helped the Blue Jays make the World Sequence with an MLB-record 30 hits within the post-season.

His 22 defensive runs saved in 2025 additionally tied for the MLB lead with Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. He was a Gold Glove finalist at each third base and as a utility participant, however in the end did not win both award.

Clement at present has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining and is not as a consequence of hit free company till the 2029 season.