Blue Jays star Bo Bichette began the campaign on Saturday. He's beating the drum for Ernie Clement to be an All Star.
And Clement has a legitimate case to be one of the more surprising All-Star candidates across MLB this season.
The utility infielder is ninth in the American League in batting average at .304.
He also turns into one of the best hitters on the planet against lefties.
Clement rarely strikes out, just 29 in 240 at bats so far. He has ripped 16 doubles and four homers while swiping a pair of bags.
The 29-year old Clement has always had talent. He went from the most-gifted hitter in upstate New York in high school to a national champion at Virginia as a freshman.
But even in his best MLB season a year ago, he batted .263 with a .692 OPS.
Now, he's at .304 with a .756 OPS.
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The only other time Clement has hit like this in the majors was in a small-sample 29 games in 2023 for the Blue Jays, when he had a .380 average.
Now, though, Clement is doing it over a long stretch. And he isn't showing any signs of slowing down.
Clement will be a third baseman in balloting, which has some strong, established candidates in the AL. So maybe he doesn't actually get to the game.
But the fact that Clement is in the conversation at all is quite the accomplishment.
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