Nobody saw this player breaking the MLB postseason hits record

The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series. Just two outs from their first championship since back-to-back wins in 1992-1993, the Blue Jays saw Miguel Rojas, hitless since October 1, launch a game-tying home run off Jeff Hoffman.

The drama continued when Will Smith hit an 11th-inning home run off Shane Bieber, which proved to be the game-winner. The Blue Jays nearly fought back in the bottom of the inning; with one out and runners on first and third, Alejandro Kirk grounded into a series-ending double play.

Nobody saw this player breaking the MLB postseason hits record

Throughout the postseason, all eyes were on the massive power production from the Blue Jays' young superstar, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The first baseman slashed .397/.494/.795 with 18 runs, eight home runs, 15 knocked in, and a 1.289 OPS.

His home runs broke both single-postseason and career postseason records, previously held by Jose Bautista (four) and by both Bautista and Joe Carter (six), respectively. He also set an OPS-postseason record, breaking Randy Arozarena’s previous 1.279 mark from 2020 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Yet, while Guerrero Jr. made headlines, another Blue Jay quietly set two postseason hits records from a totally unexpected source.

In fact, Ernie Clement delivered as one of the best postseason contact hitters. In his debut postseason, he slashed .411/.416/.562 with 13 runs, one home run, nine knocked in, and a .977 OPS. Despite batting in the lineup's lower third, he became a hit machine, including three hits in World Series Game 7. With those, he broke the single-postseason hits record—previously held by Arozarena (29 in 2020).

Clement's single in the second inning of Game 7 also stretched his hit streak to 13 games, setting a new Blue Jays postseason record over Pat Borders’s previous 12-game mark from 1992. Clement nearly became the hero late as he came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of a 4-4 game, only to see Andy Pages make the game-saving catch in right center after colliding with Enrique Hernández.

The outbreak was unexpected because Clement hadn’t been a major contributor offensively in his career. He's most useful for his superb defense and ability to play multiple positions. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by the Cleveland Indians at the time.

He made his MLB debut in 2021, but in 2022, he was designated for assignment. The Athletics claimed him, but released him the following spring. He then signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays and became an everyday player in 2024.

The utility player played in 157 games this season, slashing .277/.313/.398 with 83 runs, nine home runs, 50 knocked in, and a .711 OPS. It's safe to say Clement will remember this postseason performance, although a Commissioner's Trophy is all that could have made it sweeter.