In a thrilling Game 7 of the World Series, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement made headlines by achieving a major league record with 30 hits in a single post-season. This surpasses the previous record held by Randy Arozarena, who had 29 hits as a rookie with the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2020 playoffs.
During the 2020 playoffs, Tampa Bay played 20 games across four playoff rounds after a shortened regular season due to the pandemic. In contrast, Toronto participated in 18 games across three playoff rounds this season. Despite their impressive performances, both teams ultimately fell short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Clement’s remarkable feat included three hits in Game 7 – a single in the second inning, another single with a run scored in the sixth, and a record-breaking leadoff double in the eighth inning that led to Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan’s exit. Additionally, Clement extended his hitting streak to 13 games, setting a new Blue Jays post-season record. The previous record of a 12-game hitting streak was held by Toronto catcher Pat Borders in 1992 when he was named the World Series MVP against Atlanta.
In his debut post-season appearance, Clement boasted an impressive batting average of .411, going 30-for-73 with one home run and nine RBIs. Despite his strong performance in Game 7 where he went 3-for-5, the Blue Jays suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in 11 innings.
Clement came close to securing the victory for Toronto in the ninth inning, hitting a long drive to left-center with the bases loaded, only to be caught on the warning track, resulting in the game heading to extra innings with a 4-4 tie.
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster, Clement expressed his feelings after the game, stating, “I’ve been crying for like probably for an hour. I thought I was done with the tears.”
Drafted by Cleveland in 2017, Clement faced challenges before finding success with the Blue Jays. His career took a positive turn during the 2025 regular season, where he played a career-high 157 games, showcasing his versatility by appearing in all four infield positions and delivering a solid performance with a .277 batting average, nine home runs, and 50 RBIs. In the 2024 season, Clement achieved personal bests with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs for Toronto.