Matt Clement facts for kids

Matthew Paul Clement (born August 12, 1974) is a former American baseball player. He was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Clement played for several teams during his career. These included the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox. He played from 1998 to 2006. He threw and batted right-handed.

Clement used different types of pitches. He had a sinking fastball and a strong slider. He also threw a four-seamer and a changeup. Over nine seasons, Clement won 87 games and lost 86. He also played in the post-season. In 2003, his win helped the Cubs get very close to winning the pennant.

Matt Clement's Baseball Career

Early Career and Challenges

In 2000, Clement led all major league pitchers in walks. This means he threw 125 pitches that were not strikes. He also led the National League in wild pitches several times. A wild pitch is a throw that is too high or too wide for the catcher to handle.

In June 2004, Clement was pitching very well. He had a 6-2 record and was considered for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. However, in his next six games, he did not win any. Even though his ERA (a measure of how many runs a pitcher gives up) was low, his team did not score many runs for him. The Cubs scored only 79 runs in his 30 starts that season.

Becoming an All-Star

In 2005, Clement joined the Boston Red Sox. He was chosen for the All-Star Game for the first time. This was a big achievement in his career. Before the All-Star break, he had a great record of 10 wins and 2 losses. He finished the season with 13 wins and 6 losses.

On July 26, 2005, Clement was hit in the head by a fast line drive. This happened during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Luckily, he was able to recover.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2006, Clement started only 12 games. He had shoulder surgery in September of that year. This surgery ended his season early. He worked to get better but did not play in a major league game in 2007.

In 2008, Clement signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Doctors said he was healthy enough to play. However, he started the year on the disabled list and did not play in spring training. He later made a minor-league comeback game. But on August 2, he was released by the Cardinals.

Clement signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2008. He was invited to their spring training. After not being able to secure a spot on the team, Clement decided to retire from baseball. He announced his retirement on April 5, 2009.

Life After Baseball

After retiring from baseball, Matt Clement moved back to his hometown. This was Butler, Pennsylvania. He became the head coach for the boys' basketball team at his old high school. He also became part of a group that bought the Butler BlueSox, a local baseball team.

See also

In Spanish: Matt Clement (beisbolista) para niños

• List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders