Toronto Blue Jays infielder and Brighton graduate Ernie Clement sent a special message to his former school district ahead of Game 1 of the World Series.
Clement is one of only four players born in the greater Rochester area to appear in a World Series, following Heinie Groh in 1919 and 1922, Howie Krist in 1943 and Johnny Antonelli in 1954.
Here’s what the major leaguer had to say to his alma mater.
What are Ernie Clement’s ties to Rochester, NY?
Clement got his start in baseball through Brighton’s youth baseball league before the then-seventh-grader moved to the district’s high school program in 2009. By his freshman year two years later, Clement was a second baseman in Brighton’s varsity starting lineup.
Three of Clement’s four varsity seasons were so good that baseball coaches in Section V voted him on to that year’s Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Team. Clement was also named all-state three times.
Clement’s talents during his high school playing days also earned him a spot on the D&C’s AGR Baseball Team of Decade 2010-19 by way of a panel of area coaches and the publication’s sports editor. After high school, Clement went from Buckland Park on Westfall Road to Atlantic Coast Conference baseball with the Virginia Cavaliers.
Clement has been in pro baseball since 2017, when the Cleveland organization drafted him in the fourth round. He made his major league debut in 2021. The next year, the Oakland Athletics claimed Clement, who later signed a contract to play in the Blue Jays organization in 2023.
Clement sends message to Brighton students: Watch the video here
In a video posted to the Brighton Central School District’s Instagram page on Oct. 24, Clement listed all four schools he attended in the district — Council Rock Primary School, French Road Elementary School, Twelve Corners Middle School and Brighton High School — and thanked everyone for their support.
“You’re all the best,” Clement said. “I love everybody back home and the support just means the world to me … Go Bruins!”
Contributing: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reporter James Johnson
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
