Ernie Clement‘s breakout 2025 turned heads on both sides of the border.
After emerging as a key piece of the Toronto Blue Jays‘ run to the World Series, Clement was given a key to his home Monroe County in New York on Saturday, where Nov. 29 was proclaimed as “Ernie Clement Day.”
Clement was honoured while attending an event with the MiLB’s Rochester Red Wings.
The Brighton, N.Y., native served as one of Toronto’s most productive players last season, as he hit .277 with nine home runs in 157 regular-season games. He also led off all of baseball with 22 defensive runs saved, spending time at all four infield positions.
Clement took his game to another level in October, though. The 29-year-old set an MLB record with 30 post-season hits, besting the previous mark of 29 held by Randy Arozarena. In total, Clement recorded 22 singles, six doubles, one triple and one home run across three playoff rounds for the Blue Jays.
“Ernie, we are incredibly proud of you, and you represented your hometown so well on the world stage,” Monroe County executive Adam Bello said Saturday, per News10NBC.
Monroe County is located along Lake Ontario’s southern shore in New York State, and its largest city is Rochester.
“I’m really grateful, honestly,” said Clement. “The Rochester community has been so supportive, even when I was coming up in the minor leagues, even when I was in college, everyone was just so awesome.”
Clement is set to return to the Blue Jays in 2026 after Toronto tendered the arbitration-eligible infielder’s contract on Nov. 21. The two sides now have until Jan. 9 to come to terms on a deal for 2026, before a hearing is scheduled to determine Clement’s contract.