Marshalltown’s Jeff Clement has unfinished business in majors

The Marshalltown Plan: A post -1.4 WAR recovery.

This, Iowa Sports Academy, is where the Marshalltown native and 2005 first-round draft pick comes to work on his swing. It’s where Clement, the forgotten man from a star-studded draft class — one that included Justin Upton, Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Braun — comes to prepare for the upcoming season.

It’s a season that Clement, thought of by some to be the greatest high school player in state history, considers to be one of his most important. It’s a season that could be one of his final chances to turn around his once promising career.

“I feel like there’s a lot of unfinished business left in my career,” Clement said. “I’m 29 now. I’m obviously not getting any younger.”

...“I think every season from here on out, I need to get the job done,” Clement said. “I need to play well or it’s time to go back to school or start looking for a job.”

He isn’t ready to give up, though. The same is true for his supporters in Marshalltown.

“I could be walking in the building in the summer, and if he had a good night the night before, a couple of custodians are going to say, ‘Hey, he did real well last night, didn’t he?’ ” Hanson said. “They’re watching the games and following it.”

...This could be his last shot to show them.

“You need to get it done at my age or you’re done playing,” Clement said. “It’s a good challenge and it’s something I look forward to this season.