Ernie Clement of the Blue Jays' “impossible” home run goes viral

On Thursday afternoon, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement came to bat in the second inning with no outs and a runner on first base. In a 1-2 count against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Mike Baumann, he not only hit a home run, but now holds the record for the highest hit pitch in Blue Jays history.

Baumann's 96.7 mph fastball was 4.60 feet off the ground when Clement hit it, making it the second-highest pitch for a home run in the pitch-tracking era (2008). The Toronto infielder's 10th home run of the season marks his third consecutive game with a home run.

Clement's massive hit was no ordinary home run. The only pitch higher than Clement's was a 4.61-foot pitch hit by Kyle Higashioka in 2022, according to Statcast data.

The difficulty of hitting a pitch like that cannot be overstated. Clement even admitted he shouldn't have hit the pitch he hit on Thursday (via ESPN).

“I probably shouldn't swing on pitches like that,” Clement said. “I've missed that pitch a few times this year. I just try to get the bat to the ball in two hits.”

The home run extended Toronto's early lead, and they scored five runs in the second inning. The Blue Jays have now won four straight games against the Angels and have emerged victorious in eight of their last 10 meetings since last season.

The Blue Jays’ balanced attack

Toronto's victory was a testament to their balanced play. Starting pitcher Ryan Burr, who was moved up to give the regulars more rest at the start of the game, allowed two hits before being replaced by left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. Yarbrough pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three singles and four strikeouts.

His performance was highly praised and caused quite a stir among Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

“It was like Bob Ross,” Schneider said. “He painted.”

The Blue Jays also benefited from contributions from across their lineup. Joey Loperfido added a triple and scored on an RBI groundout by George Springer, while Clements' 380-foot home run to left field was his 10th of the season. He became the second Blue Jays player this year to hit home runs in three consecutive games, joining none other than Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Ernie Clement's home run not only went viral, but it also highlighted the unpredictability and excitement of baseball. As the season draws to a close, the Blue Jays appear to be improving, but it may be too little, too late. But as we saw with Clement's remarkable performance, anything can happen in baseball, reminding fans of the drama and unpredictability inherent in the game.