Toronto Blue Jays report: Kacy Clemens among minor-leaguers released
Among the group of minor league players released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday was Kacy Clemens, the son of Roger Clemens.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tough impact on minor league baseball players and that reality was especially true for the group of players released by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Among the 135 players that reportedly got cut from teams according to J.J. Cooper of Baseball America was Kacy Clemens, the son of former Blue Jays pitcher Roger Clemens. Toronto selected Clemens in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft.
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It has been a tough journey for Clemens who was demoted from double-A New Hampshire to Dunedin as he struggled at the plate hitting .191/.283/.310 in 434 plate appearances.
For most of these players, it’s a tough blow to their career considering the lack of a minor league season has forced MLB teams to scale back their financial commitment. Fortunately for some, teams have agreed to continue paying the minor league player stipends.
While it would have been tough to expect the Blue Jays to release a top tier prospect, there was the nostalgia factor of having Clemens join the group of minor leagues whose fathers all played in the MLB. At the end of the day, it’s a business where players who don’t perform aren’t afforded many chances.
Not too long ago, there was a story by Click 2 Houston about Clemens training with his brother Kody and father during the pandemic. Unfortunately, it’s tough to know if any of that work would get a chance to show any improvement with the Blue Jays.
This probably won’t be the last chance Clemens gets in baseball and you wonder if he can improve his .OPS and getting on base because he has shown that he has power behind the plate. Of course, being a first baseman also means that his offensive numbers get put into the spotlight than ever before.
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Do you think Clemens gets another chance from an MLB team? Do you think the Blue Jays should continue to pay minor league players past their committed timeline? Let us know in the comments below.