Why this Blue Jay may be the dark horse postseason MVP

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s postseason outburst has been the talk of Toronto. The attention towards him is more than just well deserved, as he's hitting .455 and just broke Jose Bautista's record for most home runs in a postseason (franchise history) with five. He's the $500 million man and he's preforming like it, why wouldn't he be on the front page?

That being said, Ernie Clement, who was designated for assignment by the Athletics just three years ago, has been the definition of a dark horse for the Toronto Blue Jays, and he's not getting nearly the attention that he deserves.

So far this postseason (Going into Game 5), the 29-year-old is hitting .452, just a few ticks below Vladdy, with a .455 OBP, a 1.068 OPS and a homer, all while driving in six runs. That mark places him third in average and second in hits. In addition, it places him in second place for batting average in postseason Blue Jays history, only behind once again, Vladdy Jr.

Ernie Clement’s rise from depth piece to key contributor

No matter how you look at, Clement was not expected to put up these types of numbers, especially when the stakes are this high. When looking up and down the list of unexpected contributions on the 2025 Blue Jays, you'll see names like Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, or Tyler Heineman, but it seems like Clement is the name that should be mentioned first.

Clement took massive advantage of his increase in playing time this year, which has resulted in the production we are seeing now. He's seen himself in 157 games, a solid increase from his 139 in 2024. Despite a relitively large role throughout the 2024 season, he entered this 2025 as a utility player, as he's shown his ability to fill in at any infield position, even first base when needed.

Given his slight promotion, he's rewarded the front office with a breakout season, one where he's improved on essentially every hitting metric.

A lot of his success has come from his ability not to chase, as he's decreased his chase rate by seven points (36.4%). His hard hit rate has prevailed as an result, as that's increased by a tick (26%), along with his average exit velocity (86.6 mph) and launch angle (17.9 degrees).

Clement has also brought the Blue Jays this success with a body that's been through the ringer this year. Back in August, he played through a hairline fracture in his wrist, and it seems like he's been rolling on the ground in agony about seven times since then. Yet, he's putting up one of the best postseason performances in a long while, cementing himself as a dark horse candidate for a playoff MVP award.