Blue Jays: How Ernie Clement’s breakout season saw him post a career-high WAR

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement took advantage of increased playing time to produce the best season of his career in 2025.

Expected to be a casualty of an infield shakeup that saw second baseman Andrés Giménez added to the roster in a trade and the promotion of prospect Will Wagner, who was the team’s opening day third baseman, Clement continued to grind and has become one of Toronto’s most reliable players. 

Despite a regular season role throughout the 2024 season, the 29-year-old entered this year as a utility player, able to fill in at any of the four infield positions, while being best-suited at second or third base. After a hot start, Gimenez struggled mightily with his offensive production, suffered a quadriceps injury, and was placed on the IL for the first of two lengthy stents in early May. Meanwhile, Wagner failed to display the hitting prowess he showed during a one-month cameo towards the end of the 2024 campaign.

These developments gave Clement a daily role and also opened the door for Addison Barger to become a major contributor.

With regular playing time established, the former University of Virginia star was able to focus on his game and contribute to wins, which is exactly what he did, setting career highs across the board, helping the Blue Jays to their best season in a decade. Clement’s games played went from 139 in ‘24 to 157 this year, which allowed him to achieve many personal bests. His at-bats went from 434 to 545, runs scored increased nearly twofold from 48 to 83, and hits shot up to 151 from 114.