Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement says he'll never forget this advice from his mom

Toronto Blue Jays breakout star Ernie Clement's MLB career nearly came to an end before it ever really even began.

Clement, now an everyday player for the Toronto Blue Jays, became a household name in the 2025 playoffs. The 30-year-old recorded an MLB postseason record 30 hits in just 77 plate appearances for a blistering .411 average.

Had you just tuned into the playoffs, you would have likely thought Clement was widely regarded as a superstar talent. That, however, is far from the case.

The versatile infielder joined the Jays organization when his career was at an all-time low. He'd recently just been released by the Oakland Athletics, and there was no guarantee he would ever get back to the Majors. The stress was almost too much for Clement, who admitted in a recent Players' Tribune column that there was a moment when he broke down crying in front of his mom.

It was his mom's advice, however, that helped turn him into the player Blue Jays fans get to see today.

"I'll never forget my mom's response," Clement wrote. "She was like, 'Ernie…. let's be honest. You could be done playing baseball tomorrow. I mean, I hope not. It could happen, though, right?? So why not enjoy it??? Like, why spend this time being stressed? Spend it having fun.'"

Though a seemingly common suggestion, the words seemed to awaken something in Clement's brain, who, in his own words, wasn't "gripping things as tight" afterward. The results from there really speak for themself. 

Clement suited up for a career-high 139 games in 2024, before appearing in 157 this past season. It's quite easy to understand why he appears so happy and full of life each and every time he hits the field. Fans shouldn't expect to see anything different this coming season.

"I know my career won't last forever … but I know the little kid in me would be proud of how I'm smiling and having fun out there, the same way I did all those years ago in the backyard," Clement said. 

"I hope that comes through — the joy this game brings me every day. Baseball is my favorite thing in the world, man. And I'm so honored I get to play it with the Jays and in Toronto," he wrote.