The Toronto Blue Jays are entering the final stretch of the 2025 regular season with everything on the line. Sitting in a tense race for the American League East crown, they’ve been dealt a tough blow: franchise cornerstone Bo Bichette is out with a knee injury. For a team that relies heavily on Bichette’s bat and leadership, losing him during a playoff push could not have come at a worse time.
But baseball has always been a sport where unlikely heroes step up, and for Toronto, that figure is Ernie Clement. The 28-year-old utility man has been thrust into the starting shortstop role while carrying an injury of his own.
Playing Through Pain
Clement’s situation is nothing short of remarkable. In late August, Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan unleashed a sinker that rode too far inside, striking Clement on the top of his left hand. The following day, imaging confirmed what most feared: a small fracture in the middle of the hand.
Normally, an injury of that nature sends players straight to the injured list. The hand is critical for gripping the bat, making throws, and even fielding grounders with confidence. Yet Clement refused to sit down. Instead, he adjusted, managed the pain, and carried on.
And the results speak for themselves. Since sustaining the fracture, Clement has been more than serviceable he’s been outstanding. Hitting .367 with a .906 OPS in the games following his injury, he has proven he can be a stabilizing presence at the plate. Defensively, Statcast metrics grade him as a plus shortstop, which only adds to his value as Bichette’s stand-in.
Replacing a Star
There is no sugarcoating the impact of losing Bichette. The two-time All-Star was in the middle of one of his hottest stretches of the season, and his presence in the heart of the lineup gave Toronto a consistent offensive spark. Without him, the Blue Jays’ batting order loses both production and intimidation.
Still, Clement is doing his best to bridge the gap. While he doesn’t bring Bichette’s power, he offers contact skills, defensive reliability, and most importantly a fearless mindset.
“Go Do Your Job”
When asked about his mentality in dealing with the injury, Clement didn’t deliver a long speech or lean on clichés. Instead, he summed it up in four words:
“Go do your job.”
That phrase encapsulates the grit and professionalism that has defined Clement’s career. He’s never been a headliner or a superstar, but he’s the kind of player every contending team needs—someone who accepts a role, embraces responsibility, and refuses to fold under pressure.
A Timely Example
The Blue Jays need every bit of Clement’s resilience right now. With just weeks left in the season, every game counts. Toronto not only has to fend off challengers in the East but also ensure they enter October healthy and prepared. Clement’s determination to keep playing, despite the pain, sends a message that this roster is willing to fight through adversity to reach its goals.
If Bichette can return after his minimum stint on the injured list, Toronto will regain a crucial weapon. Until then, the job falls on Clement a player with a broken hand, a hot bat, and an unshakable attitude.
For Blue Jays fans, his four-word mantra could just as easily apply to the entire team: go do your job.