Ernie Clement’s big weekend continues to push his All-Star case in 2026

Few Toronto Blue Jays on the current roster are more beloved than Ernie Clement. His energy, scrapiness, and selfless attitude embody everything the team is all about. 

Clement also happens to be a great baseball player who seems to be getting better every year. His steady incline over the past few seasons has culminated in a 2026 campaign in which he’s posting the best offensive numbers of his career. 

He entered Sunday slashing .306/.327/.464 with an American League-leading 76 hits, 19 of which have been doubles. He’s also added six home runs, a triple, and two stolen bases. 

He added a hit a hit and scored a run on Sunday as well. The proof is in the statistics: Clement is one of baseball’s best second basemen and is making a real case to represent the Toronto Blue Jays in Philadelphia this summer.

Who else is competing with Clement for an All-Star spot?

An overall lack of competition at second base in the American League is certainly working in Clement’s favour. 

Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers was the starting second baseman at last year’s All-Star Game, but has missed time this season due to injury and put up pedestrian stats when healthy. He doesn’t appear likely to repeat with the Tigers struggling.

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. would have been a shoo-in had his stats looked anything like they did last year; the sub-.700 OPS he’s currently running won’t cut it. He’s been better of late, however, and could pull ahead with a productive month of June. 

Another name to watch is Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros. He’s primarily playing second base again after a strange detour into the outfield last season and is rounding into form after a slow start. The nine-time All-Star has the name recognition to win the vote. 

Clement’s case isn’t ironclad, either. He’s uncharacteristically struggled on defence this year after grading among the league’s best infielders the past few seasons. Both Torres and Chisholm have graded better than him by outs above average. 

Still, it’s hard to argue that any of these players have been better than Clement overall in 2026. He’s been the most consistent hitter at the position in American League and is a much better defender than he’s shown thus far. 

None of what Clement does is conventional. He swings at seemingly every pitch he sees and doesn’t hit the ball hard consistently, yet just keeps racking up the hits. He’s a one-of-a-kind player who has been integral to keeping the Blue Jays afloat amid their struggles.

Ernie Clement should be an All-Star and he is proving it every day.

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