Red Sox great Roger Clemens watches son Kody hit Fenway Park home run – for the Minnesota Twins

CNN - May 4th, 2025
Open on CNN

On Saturday, Kody Clemens, son of MLB legend Roger Clemens, achieved a memorable feat by hitting a home run at Fenway Park, a milestone his father never reached during his illustrious pitching career. With the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox tied at 1-1 in the sixth inning, Clemens hit a two-run homer, leading the Twins to a 4-3 victory and ending their four-game losing streak. Roger Clemens, who was present in the stands with family, expressed pride and joy at witnessing his son's success at a venue where he himself had made history.

This event marks a significant personal and emotional moment for the Clemens family, blending Roger's storied past with Kody's budding career. The home run not only contributed to the Twins' win but also symbolized a passing of the torch within the Clemens family, highlighting the continued legacy at Fenway Park. Manager Rocco Baldelli acknowledged the special nature of the moment, emphasizing its enduring significance whether Kody plays for many more years or not. The home run ball, a souvenir of this achievement, was retrieved by a family friend, adding another layer of nostalgia and personal history to the Clemens' connection to Boston.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a compelling narrative that blends sports history, personal achievement, and family dynamics, making it engaging for readers interested in baseball and the Clemens family legacy. It excels in clarity and readability, presenting a well-structured story with clear language and logical flow.

While the article is generally accurate, it could benefit from additional sourcing for specific statistical claims and a broader range of perspectives to enhance balance. The reliance on primary sources from the Clemens family adds credibility but limits the diversity of viewpoints.

Overall, the article succeeds in capturing a memorable moment in sports, offering a feel-good story that resonates emotionally with its audience, though it lacks the depth to significantly impact broader societal issues or provoke controversy.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story provides a generally accurate recount of events, such as Roger Clemens' achievements with the Boston Red Sox, including his MVP and Cy Young awards in 1986, which are well-documented in MLB history. The account of Kody Clemens hitting a home run at Fenway Park is confirmed by multiple sources, including the distance and the inning in which it occurred.

However, there are areas that require further verification, such as the exact number of wins Roger Clemens had with the Red Sox, which needs confirmation against official records. Additionally, the story's claim about this being Kody's first home run since a trade on April 26 lacks independent verification.

The article accurately quotes the reactions from Roger Clemens and Kody Clemens, as well as the Twins' manager Rocco Baldelli, which are consistent with other reports. Overall, the story's factual basis is strong, but it would benefit from additional sourcing for specific statistical claims.

7
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the Clemens family, particularly highlighting the achievements and emotions of Roger and Kody Clemens. This focus is understandable given the personal nature of the story, but it does limit the range of perspectives presented.

The story includes quotes from Kody Clemens, Roger Clemens, and Rocco Baldelli, offering a balanced view of the event from the player's, his family's, and the team's perspectives. However, it could have included more context from opposing team members or fans to provide a fuller picture of the game's impact.

Overall, while the article successfully captures the personal and familial aspects of the story, it could have provided more balance by incorporating additional viewpoints from outside the Clemens family.

8
Clarity

The article is well-written and structured, providing a clear narrative that is easy to follow. The language is straightforward, and the quotes are effectively integrated into the story, enhancing the readability and engagement.

The sequence of events is logically presented, starting with a brief overview of Roger Clemens' career, followed by the details of Kody Clemens' home run and the reactions from those involved. This helps maintain a coherent flow and keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Overall, the article is clear and concise, effectively communicating the main points without unnecessary complexity. The narrative is engaging, making it accessible to a broad audience.

6
Source quality

The article relies on quotes from primary sources like Kody and Roger Clemens, which adds credibility to the narrative. It also references the Associated Press for Roger Clemens' quotes, lending further authority to the reporting.

However, the story lacks a diversity of sources, relying heavily on family members and team affiliates. It would benefit from additional independent sources or statistics to verify claims about Kody's home run history and the specifics of the game.

The reliance on primary sources from the Clemens family provides a strong personal angle, but the lack of varied external sources limits the overall credibility and depth of the article.

5
Transparency

The article provides some transparency by including direct quotes and attributing them to specific individuals, such as Kody and Roger Clemens, and Rocco Baldelli. This helps readers understand where the information is coming from.

However, the article does not offer much detail on how certain statistics or claims, like the number of wins or home runs, were verified. This lack of methodological transparency could lead to questions about the reliability of some of the factual assertions.

While the quotes are well-attributed, the article would benefit from more explicit sourcing for factual claims and a clearer explanation of how certain details were confirmed.

Sources

  1. https://www.mlb.com/twins/video/hunter-dobbins-in-play-run-s-to-kody-clemens
  2. https://www.mlb.com/video/hunter-dobbins-in-play-run-s-to-kody-clemens
  3. https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-vlskmsj4t5akszl1
  4. https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401695397