Matt Clement facts for kids

Matthew Paul Clement (born August 12, 1974) is a former American Major League Baseball player. He was a starting pitcher, which means he was the first pitcher to throw for his team in a game. Matt Clement played for several teams during his career. These included the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox. He threw and batted with his right hand.

Matt Clement was known for his special pitches. He had a "sinking fastball" that dropped as it reached the batter. He also threw a "slider," which is a pitch that moves sideways. He mixed these with a "four-seam fastball" and a "changeup." A changeup is a slower pitch that looks like a fastball.

Over nine seasons, Clement won 87 games and lost 86. He also played in the postseason, which is the playoff part of baseball. He had a record of 1 win and 2 losses in these important games. In 2003, his win in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series helped the Cubs get very close to winning the pennant. From 2002 to 2005, batters found it hard to hit against him. His "Earned Run Average" (ERA) was 3.99 during this time. ERA measures how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings.

Matt Clement's Baseball Career

Early Career and Challenges

In the year 2000, Matt Clement led all of Major League Baseball in "walks." A walk happens when a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone. He also led the National League in "wild pitches" three times between 2000 and 2003. A wild pitch is a throw that is so off target the catcher cannot stop it.

In June 2004, Clement was pitching very well. He had a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. Many people thought he might be chosen for the All-Star Game. However, in his next six games before the All-Star break, he didn't win any games. Even though his ERA was good, his team didn't score many runs for him. This is called "run support." He finished that season with a 9-13 record. His team only scored about 2.63 runs per game when he pitched.

Becoming an All-Star

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

On July 26, 2005, something scary happened. Clement was hit in the head by a hard-hit ball called a "line drive." This happened during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2006, Clement only started 12 games. He had a record of 5 wins and 5 losses. He then had surgery on his shoulder in September. This surgery ended his season. He worked hard to get better at the Red Sox training complex. However, he did not play in any major league games in 2007.

On January 3, 2008, Clement signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The team's doctor said he was healthy and ready to play. The Cardinals hoped he would be a regular pitcher for them. But Clement started the year on the "disabled list." This means he couldn't play because of an injury. He made one minor league game appearance in June. On August 2, he was released by the Cardinals.

Clement signed another contract 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, Matt Clement announced his retirement from baseball on April 5, 2009.

Life After Baseball

After he stopped playing 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 a baseball team called the Butler BlueSox.

See also

In Spanish: Matt Clement (beisbolista) para niños

• List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders