Roger Clemens, the 22-year Major League Baseball veteran and seven-time Cy Young winner, sees a bright future for his son, Toledo Mud Hens infielder Kody Clemens.
“Obviously, as a parent, I'm just super excited that he's being able to continue to chase his dreams,” Clemens said in an interview with The Blade before Tuesday’s game. “But I say that for all the guys here on Triple-A, all of them are one step away.”
After the 2020 minor league season was canceled, Kody Clemens played for an independent league team. His brother and former minor leaguer, Koby, alongside their father, were co-managers of Team Texas.
In the Constellation Energy League, Kody hit .233 with a team-leading four home runs. Roger Clemens took more of a backseat role and let Koby lead the team.
“I still wanted to be the dad, and then just be able to talk to the other guys,” Roger Clemens said.
“That was fun. In the Constellation league, it was really important that we had so many kids, affiliated kids, playing,” the former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees pitcher said. “And I think that helped [Kody] tremendously, even going into spring training because he did play, it was [28] games and it wasn't a mom and pop league. There were some really good arms in the league, good players.”
At spring training, Kody Clemens began taking some reps at first base. He played mostly second base at the University of Texas and across three Tigers minor league affiliates. He continued to practice at the position during Detroit’s alternate site games.
Kody Clemens has the versatility to move around the diamond, Roger Clemens said.
“He wants to make it to the major leagues and see how he measures up,” Roger said. “So, to play multiple positions to do that, that would be great.”
Roger Clemens was able to watch some of Kody’s at-bats during the Tigers’ spring training in March. In 20 games, Kody Clemens hit .333 with a .417 on-base percentage.
“I just think that, again, just be himself, and he loves to play the game. He's very knowledgeable, and I think he's with a great bunch of guys that know what's going on, the sky's the limit,” Roger Clemens said of Kody. “The Tigers are rebuilding but, these days, when you try and rebuild, you still have to win. And so you want to keep that winning attitude. He does not like to lose. I know that.”
First Published May 4, 2021, 11:18 p.m.
