Toronto Blue Jays player Ernie Clement was presented with the key to his home county in New York on Saturday.
Clement was given the Key to Monroe County during an appearance at the Rochester Red Wings’ store, where he met local fans and signed autographs.
Monroe County is located along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, and Rochester, its largest city, is where Clement is from.
The key was in honour of Clement’s 30 postseason hits, which is a new MLB record.
“You showcased exceptional talent and determination with a thrilling World Series performance,” reads the message in the plaque holding the key.
“Known as a beacon of positivity in the Toronto Blue Jays’ clubhouse, you carry the spirit of your hometown onto the field, inspiring teammates and fans alike.”
Overall, Clement was 30-for-73 in his first postseason appearance with one home run and nine runs batted in.
During the postseason, Clement was grateful to the Blue Jays for giving him a chance to play, saying, “The least I can do is get a couple of hits in the playoffs for them.”
The Blue Jays lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in the World Series.
Toronto signed Clement in 2023 after the Oakland Athletics waived him.
After spending most of 2023 with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team in Buffalo, he played 139 games with Toronto the following year and 157 games this year.
This year, he was also nominated for a Gold Glove at third base and as a utility player.
Clement was drafted in the fourth round in 2017 by the Cleveland Indians.
With files from The Canadian Press
