THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,464 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,464 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
General  | General | 2/1/2005

Jeff Clement Interview

Patrick Ebert
Jeff Clement might be best known for the fact that he broke Drew Henson's all-time high school home-run record back in the summer of 2002. You can tell in talking with him that Clement would prefer to be known more as a winner, the type of player any good team would love to have on their roster, and the type of hitter that wants to be at the plate when a game matters the most. I spoke to Jeff recently about some of his approaches to hitting, how his defense behind the plate has progressed, and what he sees for the University of Southern California this season.

Patrick Ebert (PE): Since you were such a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school, a lot of people already know about your baseball accomplishments. What are some of the things you like to do outside of baseball?

Jeff Clement (JC): Fishing is right up there. When I was back home (Iowa) for this Christmas break I went up to Red Wing, Minnesota and did some fishing on the Mississippi River and did pretty well. I've been kayak fishing in the harbor a few times here in L.A. with a buddy of mine who used to play baseball here at USC. It's a lot different out here than what it is back home. When you're out in the ocean you have no idea what you're going to catch and how big it will be.

PE: I've read several of your comments from when you broke Drew Henson's all-time career home run record about how you would trade all of your home runs in for one state championship. Since you went on to win the state championship the summer after your senior year in high school, slugging a few more home runs along the way and even contributing a few key pitching performances, how do you feel about the home run record now?

JC: Looking back, at the time people were making a big deal about it and I didn't understand why. I didn't think it was a real big deal, I realized it was a nice achievement and a nice record to have, but at the same time it wasn't like I was going up to the plate thinking about that record. I was thinking about having a good at-bat and ultimately helping my team win. With that approach I think I was able to accomplish a lot more as an individual when I was thinking about the team first.

PE: I also noticed you hold the all-time record for walks among high school players. Having both the home run record and the walks record puts you in a distinguished group similar to Barry Bonds at the Major League level. Are you proud to hold that record as well?

JC: Yeah. It's never fun to walk, and it's not one of those things that you try to do when you go to the plate. But at the same time if you're not getting any pitches to hit, it beats getting yourself out and going back to the dugout thinking, "I should have laid off that pitch." I guess it's not something I have a lot of pride about, but at the same time you wouldn't achieve other things offensively if you didn't have that kind of (batting) eye.

PE: And similar to your comment before, it helps put your team in a better position to win as well.

JC: Yeah, exactly. At the high school level I stole a lot more bases, pitchers didn't hold as well and catchers didn't throw as well. Often times if I was walked I stole second base, and a base hit would help me score a run. Obviously the more runs you score the more ballgames you win. (However) it's not as easy getting a swipe (in college) as it was at the high school level.

PE: Entering the spring of 2002, several notable baseball publications, in particular both Perfect Game USA and Baseball America, had you ranked as one of the top high school players available for the 2002 draft, and many considered you a first-round pick. What were some of the things in your mind that caused you to fall to the 12th round?

JC: The biggest reason is that I didn't perform well enough to be a higher draft pick, period. If a team is going to invest in a player, obviously they're going to want to know what kind of player they're dealing with. Obviously I didn't perform well enough in the spring of 2002 to give teams the feeling that I was worth taking as a high draft choice. Looking back now, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to come to USC and get a lot better in the past three years. Things always seem to work out, and it's usually not the way that you plan.

PE: Do you think it's harder for northern players to get noticed, particularly those that play in Iowa where the high school season doesn't even start until the summer?

JC: Yeah. It can't help. Obviously if you're Joe Mauer up in Minnesota and you're the kind of player he is, it doesn't really matter, because everyone knows how good you are and you're going to be a high draft pick. I think if you're playing in Southern California, Texas or Florida, or another warm weather state, you have more opportunities to be seen and being noticed. I'm not saying it's impossible to be noticed in a cold weather state. It's just not as ideal because you're not playing against the same competition and you're not getting the reps over the winter. It's 70 degrees every day out here (Southern California) this time of year, I can't imagine what people are doing back in the Midwest. Playing indoors I suppose. It's just a lot easier to get better out here.

PE: Were you ever close to signing with the Minnesota Twins?

JC: Not really. They didn't contact me too much until late in the summer. Their offers weren't really close to what it would have taken for me to sign and forego the opportunity to go to school here. It was never really a tough decision.

PE: How much did Perfect Game help you hone and display your skills, especially since you didn't have the advantage of playing all year long as players from southern states do?

JC: The reps are number one. I think we played about 20-25 PG Scout games in the spring and again in the fall (wood bat leagues), so that's 40-50 more games that I otherwise would not have played. Also you're playing with wood bats, and if you're fortunate enough to play professionally that's obviously what you're going to be using. You can only get better by using wood. You're also playing with and against better competition, with the guys that take the game serious enough to play in the spring and the fall. I also had the chance to go play in a couple of Perfect Game events in Florida in which you're playing against the best high school players in the nation. All of those things combined made the Perfect Game experience very helpful, not only with exposure but getting better as well.

PE: Are there any mechanical adjustments you have to make as a hitter making the switch to wood bats?

JC: A lot of people say there are, and I think it's a difficult transition for a lot of people. To be honest with you, I never really had a problem hitting with wood. I hit with wood in all of our practices here at USC, and it just makes it that much easier when you pick up the metal bat. I guess with wood you have to square it up (making contact with the ball) on the barrel, where with a metal bat you can get a little further down on the barrel or a little higher up and it's (the ball) still going to go. You can miss-hit a ball and it will still fly, with wood it will just break. However, if you hit a ball well with wood, if you have a good wood bat, it's going to jump off the bat just like it would with an aluminum bat. Mechanically I've never had any issues.

PE: While you always come across as a very humble, and team-oriented player, what are some of your personal goals for this season?

JC: I think personal goals are fine, but I really have not set up anything numbers-wise that I would like to achieve. I think by doing that you're just setting yourself up for failure. For me I'm just going to go in with the approach "game-by-game, pitch-by-pitch." It's sounds like a cliché, but it's true. Stepping up to the plate you want to get a good at-bat, and if you're keeping track of your good at-bats the statistics will follow. You'll put up better numbers if you go up there with the approach that "I'm going to have a good at-bat, no matter what happens." Baseball's a team game. If you're playing the game to win and play hard, that will take care of the personal stuff.

PE: Who is the best pitcher you have ever faced?

JC: At the Pan-Am games in the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2003, the Cuban pitcher, and I don't remember what his name was, he was no doubt the best pitcher I have ever faced. On two days rest he threw a complete game, beating us three to one in the Gold medal game. He was throwing two-seamers, four-seamers, sliders, curve-balls and changeups, and he had command of everything. Just nasty stuff.

(Writer's note: The Cuban pitcher that Jeff Clement is referring to is Norge Vera).

PE: Who is the best pitcher you have caught outside of USC?

JC: That's a very good question. I would guess it would have to be one of the guys from Team USA the past two years. Last year the best and most consistent probably was Ricky Romero, from Cal State Fullerton. He has a really good breaking ball and spotted his fastball really well. Two years ago Huston Street (University of Texas, now in the Oakland A's organization) had the best control of anyone that I have caught, with a slider and fastball he would just paint the black on both sides of the plate. For a pure, live arm, Mike Pelfrey (Wichita State) has as good of an arm of anyone I've caught. Two years ago Justin Verlander (Old Dominion, now in the Detroit Tigers organization) touched 98 in one of the games I was catching, and that's probably the hardest pitch I have ever caught. Any one of those guys could be the best on any given day or night.

PE: Who are some hitters that you admire and possibly try to emulate?

JC: The guy that is the most fun to watch is Barry Bonds. He does not swing at anything that isn't over the plate. He won't do it. He has as good of an idea at the plate of anyone that I've ever seen in my lifetime without question. That inside fastball, high and inside, I don't think anyone else can get their hands through the ball that quickly and keep it fair, hit the ball out of the park, on a consistent basis like he does. I admire Lance Berkman, but that's more of a personal thing since I had the chance to meet and spend the weekend with him. I admire Derek Jeter as a player because he's such a leader and his team is always deep in the playoffs. He elevates his game to another level every October. While some guys get tight at the plate (in pressure situations), he gets looser, he knows how good he is and he goes and performs like no one else I've seen in October.

PE: The one question mark regarding you is your defense, although you did a great job last year throwing out baserunners. In what areas have you worked hard to improve upon and in what areas do you strive to get better at?

JC: I've worked hard at every aspect of my game. On defense, receiving and blocking, I think I've gotten better at those things between a mix of repetitions and from advice I receive from Jason Brown, the guy I go fishing with, who caught here at USC from 1992 to 1997 I believe. He just signed a contract with the Yankees. He's taught me more about catching, and put it in words that make the most sense to me, more than anyone else that I've worked with. Between getting all of the reps with better pitchers at this level and working with better pitchers the last two summers, and the advice I've received from Jason Brown and now Chad Kreuter, who played 19 years professionally, 14 in the big leagues as a catcher, has helped me a lot. Kreuter, who I'm not sure if he's a volunteer assistant coach or if he's the director of baseball operations (laughing), has been a big help to me this spring and fall, actually more as a hitter than as a catcher. He's done it for the last 20 years and he has so much experience. I learn something new every time I talk to him, he has so many stories, he talks about approach and I just feel so much better about the way I hit. This fall and so far in January I feel so much more comfortable at the plate and have a much better idea than what I've ever had before, and I have to say that he's been the biggest reason for that. We'll see how that translates in games.

PE: As a catcher, do you ever think that you sometimes out-smart yourself when trying to guess how pitchers will pitch to you?

JC: I think in the past I've struggled with that before, out-thinking myself, and that's another thing that Chad (Kreuter) has helped me with, being more loose and relaxed and realizing what pitches to look for and what I want to hit. I'm not focused as much on what the pitcher is doing as what I'm doing. I realize that if I'm on it and I feel good at the plate, it doesn't matter as much what the pitcher is going to come at me with because I feel I can react and adjust to anything he throws up there, rather than guessing. It's good to have an idea of what you're going to get. To sit up there and guess and let a pitch go by that maybe you could have driven because you're thinking something else is something I've run into too much in the past and something I feel I've gotten a lot better at just this last fall.

PE: Last year you began the season with a bout with mononucleosis and a strained wrist, which many people have pointed to as the reason for your slow start. Are you healthy going into 2005 and what can we expect from USC this season?

JC: Yes, I am healthy, I feel really good. I'm ready for the season to start. Our team has gelled really well this fall and through January this year, and we've got a lot of young guys that have worked hard that we count on to be productive as position players and pitchers. All of our position players are pretty much the same with the addition of a couple of new guys that are really good players. With the combination of the younger guys that are really talented and the other guys that are a year older, I think our lineup is going to be better and our defense is going to be better. We're counting on a lot of new pitchers, and the same thing from veteran pitchers, to come back and get better. I'm not going to make any predictions as to how much better we'll be, but I do think our team has gelled a lot better than what it has in the past, and we have guys that are willing to work hard and it seems as though everyone has the same goal in mind. I don't know how many more wins that will mean, but it's a lot of fun to show up to the park everyday.

PE: Thank you very much, and thanks for taking the time to speak with me. Best of luck to you and your team this year.

JC: Thanks, I appreciate it.

Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and Brewerfan.net, and can be contacted via email at pebert@brewerfan.net.
Give us your feedback
General | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/3/2026

Beast of the East Heads to Georgia

Will Dembo
Article Image
Marietta, Georgia will welcome some of the nation’s top teams this weekend as the Perfect Game Beast of the East Invitational takes place June 4-8. The invite only 15-17u tournament will showcase a plethora of nationally ranked teams and top talent looking to make a statement early into the summer and take home the championship in what promises to be a highly competitive weekend of baseball. The 15u division will shine a spotlight on several of the top ranked programs in the country as 9 out of the 32 total squads competing are T100. 11 states will be represented in the age bracket, proving how prestigious this event has become. Headlining the field are Wow Factor National who comes in at No. 8 in the national rankings, as well as Canes National who enters the weekend trailing just one spot behind Wow Factor. Canes National has an absolutely loaded roster with 9 players who rank in...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

"Houston, We Nave a Problem"

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Some moments set the tone for an entire game. For Jackson Nave, it happened in his very first trip to the plate. The Sevierville, Tennessee native stepped into the batter’s box looking for a pitch he could drive. A few moments later, the ball was flying over the fence, giving FTB Phillies 13U an early boost and igniting what would become a dominant offensive performance. “I was feeling good,” Nave said. “I was just trying to find a pitch I could hammer. I kept my eye on it, took it down the middle and that felt good.” That swing was only the beginning. Nave finished the game with a home run, four runs scored, and four RBI as FTB Phillies 13U rolled to a 27-4 victory on the opening day of the 2026 PG 13U National Elite Championship. For Nave, getting the offense started early is an important part of helping his team succeed. “I think it is really...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Reed Continues to Prove He Belongs

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
For many young players, competing alongside some of the top talent in the country can be intimidating. For Chris Reed, it is simply another opportunity to prove he belongs. The Conyers, Georgia native has established himself as one of the premier players in the 2030 class, currently ranking No. 24 nationally and No. 7 among shortstops according to Perfect Game. Reed’s game has consistently stood out against elite competition thanks to his athleticism, instincts, and all-around skill set. That ability was on full display during the 2025 Perfect Game 13U National Showcase, where Reed earned his invitation to the PG Select Festival, one of the most prestigious events available to players his age. “It showed that I can play with the best of the best, and that I belong,” Reed said of the experience. The event provided more than just exposure. It also reinforced an important...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘29 SS Chase Hallett (NJ) drops the bat head on this one & lifts it out to the PS for a solo HR. Free and easy LH swing w/ present strength & more to dream on. #BeastOfTheEast @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Ym9LFg05tx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 4, 2026 Chase Hallett (2029, Pennington, N.J.) came up with a loud swing on Thursday morning, dropping the barrel on one and lifting it out to the pull-side. It’s an intriguing profile overall with the young left-handed hitting middle infielder and the power projects in a big way. The swing is short and simple, he finds the barrel at a high clip, and is a sure handed defender up the middle. This has all the makings of a high-end prospect in a few years and is certainly a name of note in the ‘29 class. Canon Day (2028, Germantown, Tenn.) put together a great day on the offensive side of things,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Arizona Desert Classic Gets Underway

Emily Hicks
Article Image
After another busy week of baseball, attention now turns to the 2026 PG 14u Arizona Desert Classic tournament as teams prepare for a weekend of competition on the Perfect Game circuit. ATB 13U enters the event looking to continue building on its season so far. The team comes into the weekend with a record of 5-4 and has shown strengths in their offense and defense. As the schedule gets tougher, this tournament presents another opportunity to test themselves against quality opponents. The field features teams from across Arizona, setting up several intriguing matchups throughout pool play. Key games against AZ Premier Prospects and Maverix could provide an early look at where the team stands heading into bracket play. A few players to keep an eye on this weekend include Reece Neely and Gavyn Jupp from Maverix and Jakob Couto from USA Scout Team AZ 14u. Whether it's producing at the plate,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/4/2026

California Kickoff Scout Notes

Joey Cohen
Article Image
Jayce Dejong (‘27, CA) finished 6-for-14 on the weekend which included a big HR in the championship game. Intriguing @PG_Uncommitted player to monitor this summer. #CAKickoff https://t.co/UbuSQxNalf pic.twitter.com/kjVcyiG8km — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 1, 2026 Jayce Dejong (2027, Yorba Linda, Calif). Really strong weekend at the plate, going 6-for-14 with multiple line-drive barrels, including a no-doubt pull-side HR. Medium, lean, athletic frame with room to add. Hits from a wider base from the left side, starts early and consistently gets to launch on time. Loose barrel turn with adjustability and length through the middle, showing the ability to create lift and impact out front. Coming off a strong junior season at Crean Lutheran and should be a priority uncommitted follow this summer. Evan Stroner (2027, Huntington Beach, Calif). Impressive...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 6/4/2026

Soph. & Junior National Arrive in Georgia

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
This weekend will kick off the 2026 PG Junior National Showcase with the Sophomore National Showcase following close behind. Both in Marietta, Georgia, these showcases will feature lots of top-50 talent along with the ever-present potential for lesser-known players to turn heads.  For the Junior National Showcase, starting on June 6, 7 of the top 10-ranked players will attend - No. 2 Colin Anderson, No. 3 Cullen Scott, No. 4 Carter Shouse, No. 6 Aiden Kearney, No. 8 Keelan Zumwalt, No. 8 Landon Bonner and No. 9 Theo Swafford.  Anderson won’t have to travel far to attend, coming from Acworth, Georgia. At last year’s Sophomore National Showcase, he impressed scouts with his calm approach and explosive bat speed. Scott, a right-handed pitcher and third baseman from Melissa, Texas, has shown his arm strength getting up in the 90-mph zone....
Read More
Draft | Story | 6/4/2026

Pence Makes the Jump to 2027

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME STANDOUT STRIKER PENCE RECLASSIFIES TO CLASS OF 2027, ACCELERATING PATH TO MLB DRAFT   Corona, California (Thursday, June 4, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Perfect Game prospect Striker Pence, one of the most watched young prospects in amateur baseball, has officially reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027, making the 17-year-old eligible for the 2027 Major League Baseball Draft. Pence is currently the #2 ranked player on Perfect Game’s national rankings and the top-ranked right-handed pitcher. Pence, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting first...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/3/2026

Gulf Coast Classic Kicks Off

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The 2026 Perfect Game Gulf Coast Classic will bring together teams from across the region this weekend as players in the 14U-16U and 18U divisions take the field looking to capture a championship and make their mark on one of the summer’s premier events. Held in Fort Myers, Florida, the tournament will feature a talented mix of standout programs, nationally ranked prospects and emerging young talent. Swamp Baseball enters the 18U division with one of the most talented rosters in the event. The Cape Coral-based team features three nationally ranked top 500 prospects along with several additional High Follow players. Outfielders Nicholas Raber and Austin Schoolcraft, along with right-handed pitcher Tyler Reeder, are all ranked among Perfect Game’s top 500 prospects nationally. Raber will have the opportunity to compete in his hometown of Fort Myers. The 2026 graduate has shown...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/3/2026

EBC 17U-Griggs Takes Title

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After a week of dominant performances, timely hitting, and resilient play, EBC 17U-Griggs capped off its run through the 2026 Perfect Game Hoover Invitational with a championship victory Monday, securing the program’s first tournament title of the summer. Despite a lengthy rain delay, EBC never lost focus, relying on contributions throughout the lineup and another strong pitching performance to secure the win. “This being our first [win] of the summer, we have an amazing group right here,” head coach Rodd Griggs said. “Some of the guys I’ve had for years, some of the guys just joined us this summer, but it’s an amazing group.” EBC’s championship performance reflected the depth that carried the club throughout the tournament. Paxton Wright set the tone of the mound, working four innings while allowing just two hits striking out two hitters....
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.