Clement’s unexpected all-star selection

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement has secured a spot in the MLB All-Star Game, emerging as the top recipient of fan votes among American League players. This achievement marks the first all-star selection of his career. Clement’s total of 3,232,932 votes surpassed other notable players in the American League, including Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who received 2,911,655 votes, and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, with 2,567,404 votes. Other players in the top five included Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who garnered 2,511,587 votes, and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., with 2,513,492 votes.

Clement will serve as the American League’s second baseman in the midsummer classic. His selection was a surprise, as he outpolled several prominent figures in the league. In contrast, Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani received the most votes among National League players, securing an automatic spot on his league’s roster. Ohtani led overall voting with 3,341,257 votes.

Reflecting on the voting results, Clement commented on finishing second to Ohtani, acknowledging Ohtani as one of the greatest players in the game. He expressed his appreciation for the honour and the support from Canada and Blue Jays fans. The MLB All-Star Game is scheduled to take place on July 14 in Philadelphia.

Clement’s career resurgence and season performance

The 30-year-old Clement’s journey to the All-Star Game follows a significant career resurgence. Originally drafted by Cleveland in 2017, he made his MLB debut four seasons later in 2021. After a challenging period with the Guardians over 103 games, he was waived in September 2022. Following a brief stint with the Oakland Athletics, Clement was waived again before being signed by the Blue Jays during spring training of the 2023 season.

Since joining the Blue Jays, Clement has flourished, with his bat-to-ball skills and defensive versatility proving to be a strong fit for the team. Over the past three seasons, he has participated in 373 games, accumulating 110 extra-base hits and maintaining a .276 batting average. This season, Clement has posted a .292 batting average, with seven home runs and 28 RBIs across 77 games. He also leads the league with 20 doubles, contributing to an impressive .292/.313/.437 slash line.

Clement also played a role in the Blue Jays’ playoff run last season, appearing in 18 games and setting a major league record for a single postseason with 30 hits. His consistent performance and fan support have culminated in this career milestone.

Blue Jays’ strong representation in all-star voting

Beyond Clement’s selection, the Blue Jays have a strong presence in the All-Star voting, with finalists in every available position. The top two finishers in Phase 1 at each position (excluding the AL second baseman and NL designated hitter) and the top six outfielders advanced to Phase 2, which involves a new round of voting. Phase 2 voting is set to begin on Monday, June 29, and will determine the starters at each position. The results for the starters will be revealed on Thursday, July 2.

The Blue Jays finalists include Alejandro Kirk at catcher, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, Kazuma Okamoto at third base, and Andrés Gimenez at shortstop. In the outfield, Daulton Varsho and Jesus Sanchez are among the six finalists, while George Springer is a finalist for designated hitter. The AL All-Star team this year will be managed by Blue Jays skipper John Schneider, following the team’s advancement to the World Series last season.

Source: sportsnet.ca

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