By: Zach Harnischfeger
ROCHESTER, NY.---- It was a chilly Saturday in November as many fans came out to Innovative Field as the Rochester Red Wings hosted Small Business Saturday at the team store. As part of the event, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement and Chicago White Sox outfielder Casey Saucke signed autographs and talked with fans.
Clement, a Brighton native, was named a 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist. He is grateful for the opportunity to come back to Rochester and for all the support he has received from fans.
"Everyone has been super supportive," Clement said. "It's cool to come back to Rochester, this is home for me. I have so many family and friends here and the support is just amazing. I'm very thankful for that."
For the Blue Jays in 2024, Clement appeared in 139 games and hit .263 with 51 RBI and 12 home runs. The 12 home runs are the most ever by a Rochester-born player.
"That's by far the most home runs I've ever hit in my life, so I don't know how the heck I did that," Clement said. "I think that's just a testament to the opportunity that I was given and the opportunity I took advantage of. I am not a home run guy but I just went out there and tried to help the team win and the results happen on their own."
Saucke, a Greece native and graduate of Greece Athena High School, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. He spent some time with the Winston-Salem Dash, the White Sox High-A affiliate this past season. Saucke was pleased to see the effect that baseball has on so many people.
"This just shows me that baseball impacts so many people's lives at every different age," Saucke said. "It's a sport that gives so much to the world and so much entertainment and for Ernie and I a job. The sport has given so much to me and the least I can do is give back to other people and represent the community."
In 24 games with Winston-Salem, Saucke hit .290 with two home runs, nine RBIs, and an OPS of .736. Saucke attended the University of Virginia from 2022 to 2024. In his three years at Virginia, Saucke recorded 159 RBI and 50 doubles which are both tied for the eighth-most in UVA history. He was named First-Team Freshman All-American and earned Second Team All-ACC and Perfect Game Third Team All-American honors.
Saucke appreciates how much his time playing at the University of Virginia helped with his transition to the professional level.
"ACC baseball is no joke, and it really gets you prepared for professional baseball," Saucke said. "That is some real competition up there. Pro ball is just one more step up. You move up every level and it's just that much better and you have to be a little bit sharper. I'm grateful for my experience in college that prepared me for where I am now."
Clement also attended the University of Virginia. In three seasons there from 2015-2017, he was a two-time All-ACC Third Team selection and was named to the All-College World Series Team. He was happy to be able to support Saucke in his journey and is looking forward to see what Saucke will do in the future.
"We had multiple conversations before he committed there and before his time there," Clement said. "I gave him a heads up of what he was in for. To see him have so much success there was fun to watch. I really enjoyed keeping up with his career and now that he is with the White Sox I will keep looking out for him and hopefully see him in the Major Leagues soon."
Both Saucke and Clement are preparing for the upcoming 2025 season.
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