While the 2026 campaign has not gone according to plan, the Toronto Blue Jays are still very much in the postseason hunt. At 33-36, last season’s AL champions are third in the AL East, nine games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees. Toronto’s inconsistent form has plagued the team, alongside a bevy of injuries. However, one Blue Jay continues to improve during a career year: second baseman Ernie Clement. While appearing on 590 The Fan, Clement’s teammate, Davis Schneider, said Clement deserves to be a starter for the AL All-Star Team. The radio show shared Schneider’s take via X, formerly Twitter.
"He's the front runner… He should be starting out there."
Davis Schneider joins @BlakeMurphyODC to share his support for Ernie Clement's All-Star candidacy.
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— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) June 11, 2026
“He’s the front runner… He should be starting out there,” Schneider opined on Thursday afternoon.
The 30-year-old has already amassed a WAR of 1.4, building off his continued improvement from the last two campaigns. Clement is currently hitting a career-best .304, to go along with seven home runs and 27 RBI in 68 games played. The versatile utilityman has played in every single game so far this season, bar one. If the Blue Jays wish to narrow their current nine-game gap, they will certainly need Clement to stay in the lineup almost every day.
Schneider’s comments aren’t too surprising. Clement is certainly one of the best second base options in the AL. The Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. is likely the frontrunner, but his .232 batting average and .717 OPS highlight a talented yet flawed player. The Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve, a longtime AL starter, is showing his age. Last year’s starter, the Detroit Tigers’ Gleyber Torres, might be Clement’s best challenger. However, the Blue Jays’ unsung hero is certainly proving he deserves a shot at the starting gig. Will voters agree with Schneider, pushing Clement into the next round of All-Star voting?
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