Ernie Clement, a Toronto Blue Jays infielder, made history in Game 7 of the World Series by achieving an MLB record of 30 hits in a single post-season, surpassing the previous record of 29 hits held by Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 playoffs. In the same season, Tampa Bay played 20 games across four playoff rounds after a shortened regular season due to the pandemic, while Toronto played 18 games over three playoff rounds.
Despite Clement’s remarkable performance, both teams, Tampa Bay and Toronto, faced defeats against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Clement’s exceptional plays included a second-inning single, a sixth-inning single with a run scored, and a record-breaking leadoff double in the eighth inning that led to Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan being replaced.
Additionally, Clement extended his hitting streak to 13 games, setting a new Blue Jays post-season record. His batting average in the post-season stood at .411 with one home run and nine RBIs. Even though Clement went 3-for-5 in Game 7 of the Series, the Blue Jays ultimately lost 5-4 in 11 innings.
In a heartbreaking moment, Clement almost secured the title for Toronto in the ninth inning, but his deep hit to left-center was caught on the warning track with the bases loaded, resulting in the game heading into extra innings with a tied score of 4-4.
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster, Clement shared, “I’ve been crying for like probably for an hour. I thought I was done with the tears.” Clement’s journey to this milestone began when he was drafted by Cleveland in 2017, later joining the Athletics before eventually signing a minor league contract with Toronto.
During the 2025 regular season, Clement showcased his versatility by playing in a career-high 157 games across all four infield positions. He achieved a batting average of .277 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs, surpassing his previous career highs of 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 2024.