Jeff Clement
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Burton Clement (born August 21, 1983 in Marshalltown, Iowa
) is a Major League Baseball
first baseman
who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates
' organization. Clement was the Seattle Mariners
' first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
.
.
At Marshalltown High School
, he broke the national high school home run
record, formerly held by Drew Henson
. He finished his high school career with 75 home runs. Clement led his high school team as a catcher/pitcher
to the Iowa 4-A State Championship game in his senior year . Clement was featured in the September 16, 2002, issue of Sports Illustrated
as part of the "For the Love of the Game" article. Out of high school, Clement was drafted in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins
(362nd overall) due to a poor performance at a pre-draft showcase, but did not sign.
Clement then went to USC
, where he starred and also played on the U.S. National Team. In his freshman year, he was named Collegiate Baseball Freshman National Co-Player of the Year, Pac-10
Conference Freshman of the Year, earned Baseball America
Freshman All-America first team, and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American first team honors.
As a sophomore, Clement earned Baseball America Preseason All-America first team and NCBWA Preseason All-America first team honors, as well as Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America second team honors. He was also named as a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award
.
In , he won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher, earned 2005 Baseball America All-America First Team, USA Today
Sports Weekly All-America first team and Collegiate Baseball All-America first team honors, as well as 2005 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
All-America third team honors and was a Finalist for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award
and named All-Pac-10 for the third straight year.
On April 30, , Clement was called up for his second stint in the major leagues by the Mariners. He went 1 for 1 in a pinch hit
appearance against the Cleveland Indians
. With catcher Kenji Johjima
signed to a large contract, Clement spent 2008 playing both catcher and designated hitter
.
He was optioned to the Triple A Tacoma Rainiers
late in Spring Training
2009.
.
He entered 2010 spring training competing for the job of starting first baseman
with Steve Pearce
and Garrett Jones
.
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
' organization. Clement was the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
' first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
Amateur career
Clement was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa. As a twelve year old, Clement led the 1996 Marshalltown team to the Little League World SeriesLittle League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
.
At Marshalltown High School
Marshalltown High School
Marshalltown High School is located in Marshalltown, Iowa and is home to 1,600 students in grades 9-12.-History:The first Marshalltown High School was located north of downtown Marshalltown on Grant Street before moving to the present Miller Middle School...
, he broke the national high school home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
record, formerly held by Drew Henson
Drew Henson
Drew Daniel Henson is a retired Major League Baseball third baseman and National Football League quarterback. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
. He finished his high school career with 75 home runs. Clement led his high school team as a catcher/pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
to the Iowa 4-A State Championship game in his senior year . Clement was featured in the September 16, 2002, issue of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as part of the "For the Love of the Game" article. Out of high school, Clement was drafted in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(362nd overall) due to a poor performance at a pre-draft showcase, but did not sign.
Clement then went to USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, where he starred and also played on the U.S. National Team. In his freshman year, he was named Collegiate Baseball Freshman National Co-Player of the Year, Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
Conference Freshman of the Year, earned Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
Freshman All-America first team, and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American first team honors.
As a sophomore, Clement earned Baseball America Preseason All-America first team and NCBWA Preseason All-America first team honors, as well as Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America second team honors. He was also named as a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award
Johnny Bench Award
The Johnny Bench Award was created in 2000 by to honor college baseball's top catcher. The award is the brain child of Wichitan Mike Gehrer who has coached and administrated in the Wichita area at the high school level for many years. He was a college catcher himself and is one of the most forward...
.
In , he won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher, earned 2005 Baseball America All-America First Team, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
Sports Weekly All-America first team and Collegiate Baseball All-America first team honors, as well as 2005 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association is an association of baseball writers, broadcasters, and publicists in the United States...
All-America third team honors and was a Finalist for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
and named All-Pac-10 for the third straight year.
Seattle Mariners
He made his major league debut on September 4, , and ended up appearing in 9 games for the season, registering 16 at-bats.On April 30, , Clement was called up for his second stint in the major leagues by the Mariners. He went 1 for 1 in a pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
appearance against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. With catcher Kenji Johjima
Kenji Johjima
is a Japanese catcher who is currently playing for the Hanshin Tigers. He played in Major League Baseball for four years with the Seattle Mariners in the American League....
signed to a large contract, Clement spent 2008 playing both catcher and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
He was optioned to the Triple A Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
late in Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
2009.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Clement was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 29, 2009 as part of a 7 player deal and immediately optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis IndiansIndianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
.
He entered 2010 spring training competing for the job of starting first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
with Steve Pearce
Steve Pearce (baseball)
Steven Wayne Pearce is a Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-High school and college career:...
and Garrett Jones
Garrett Jones
Garrett Thomas Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates.In 1999, Jones graduated from Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois....
.