Toronto Blue Jays infielder and Brighton graduate Ernie Clement sent a special message to his former school district ahead of Game 1 of the World Series.

Clement is one of only four players born in the greater Rochester area to appear in a World Series, following Heinie Groh in 1919 and 1922, Howie Krist in 1943 and Johnny Antonelli in 1954.

Here's what the major leaguer had to say to his alma mater.

What are Ernie Clement's ties to Rochester, NY?

Clement got his start in baseball through Brighton's youth baseball league before the then-seventh-grader moved to the district's high school program in 2009. By his freshman year two years later, Clement was a second baseman in Brighton's varsity starting lineup.

Three of Clement's four varsity seasons were so good that baseball coaches

See Full Page