The next player spotlighted in our Philadelphia Phillies 2024 Season Preview series is first baseman Kody Clemens.
Previous season previews: José Alvarado, Andrew Bellatti, Alec Bohm, Connor Brogdon, Nick Castellanos, Rodolfo Castro
We'll examine Clemens' 2023 season and then evaluate projections for the 2024 season using the Steamer and ZiPS projection systems, which can be found on FanGraphs.
Kody Clemens 2023 stats and 2024 projections
2023 Stats: 49 G, 148 PA, 4 HR, 15 R, 13 RBI, 0 SB, .230 AVG, .277 OBP, .367 SLG, .644 OPS, 0.1fWAR
2024 Steamer: 3 G, 13 PA, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 0 SB, .226 AVG, .293 OBP, .421 SLG, .714 OPS, 0.0 fWAR
2024 ZiPS: 420 PA, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 4 SB, .230 AVG, .293 OBP, .427 SLG, .720 OPS, 1.0 fWAR
*Editor's note: ZiPS projections include both minor and major league innings but the performance estimates are all major league level.
Kody Clemens 2024 season preview
Kody Clemens, 27, was a part of the trade between the Phillies and Detroit Tigers on Jan. 7, 2023. Philadelphia also acquired reliever Gregory Soto for infielder Nick Maton, outfielder Matt Vierling, and catcher Donny Sands.
Due to the season-ending knee injury to Rhys Hoskins during Spring Training, Clemens received playing time at first base for the Phillies. Once Bryce Harper began playing first, the team didn't have much room for Clemens on the big league roster with the Phillies superstar, Alec Bohm, and Jake Cave being used at the position. Defensively, the Houston, TX native was solid at first. In 39 games, including 35 starts, he had 25 assists and one error, finishing with a .996 fielding percentage.
Kody Clemens: 1
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 22, 2023
Wind: 0
(via @Phillies)pic.twitter.com/EUcNeAcDme
Clemens performed adequately at the plate for Philadelphia during his time in the majors. Last year was his second year spending some time playing for an MLB club as he made his debut for the Tigers in 2022.
He appeared in eight fewer contests last year compared to 2022 but had 21 more plate appearances in 2023 than in his rookie season. He finished with 15 runs scored, which was two more than he had with the Tigers two years ago. Clemens tallied 13 RBI, which was four fewer than the amount he totaled the season prior.
The son of famous pitcher Roger Clemens improved offensively during his second stint in the majors. He finished with 32 hits in 49 contests, nearly double the amount he tallied the year before, which was 17 in 57 games with the Tigers. Clemens had 21 singles during his 49 games with the Phillies and increased his doubles from four to seven.
Kody Clemens walks it off for the Phillies!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 9, 2023
(via @Phillies)pic.twitter.com/EVMNHpBt1M
Due to more offensive production last season, Clemens saw an increase in his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. He finished with a stat line of .145/.197/.308 and an OPS of .505 in 2022 with the Tigers. Last season, he finished with a .230/.277/.367 line along with a .644 OPS. Beyond his time with the Phillies, Clemens played in 62 contests with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at the Triple-A level.
Clemens projected to spend almost all of 2024 in the minor leagues
According to the Steamer projections, Clemens is expected to not be with the Phillies much during 2024. He is forecasted to play in three games with Philadelphia and go 3-for-12 in 13 plate appearances.
The infielder is projected to have one home run, two RBI, two runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. He will have a stat line of .226/.293/.421 with an OPS of .714.
ZiPS projects a similar slash line of .230/.293/.427, but his production of 17 HR and 62 RBI will come mainly with the IronPigs.
Clemens showed last season he can step up to be a decent alternative as a part-time player. If Harper were to miss time with an injury in 2024, Clemens could be an option to be promoted and split time with Bohm at first.