Rochester’s Own Ernie Clement 1st MLB All-Star Since 1959
Written by Tariq on June 29, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman and Brighton High School graduate Ernie Clement became the first Rochester-born Major League Baseball All-Star since the 1950s on Thursday, clinching a spot in the July 14th game in Philadelphia by receiving more votes than any other American League player.
The 30-year-old Clement had 3,232,932 votes in Phase 1 of All-Star voting, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in overall votes (3,341,257). Like Clement, Ohtani automatically earned an All-Star spot by being the top vote-getting in the National League. The next-closest player in the AL was Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (2,911,655).
By earning his spot in the All-Star Game, Clement joins a short list of Rochester-area players to take part in the Midsummer Classic. Until now, no Rochester-born player has been selected for the All-Star Game since pitcher Johnny Antonelli made six All-Star Games in the 1950s, his last in 1959.
Source: Pickin Splinters
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