Tommy Birch

tbirch@dmreg.com

By closing the book on one chapter of his life, Jeff Clement is hoping to finish another.

The former Marshalltown star, who still holds the national high school record for career home runs, told The Des Moines Register on Monday that he has decided to retire.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but it was one that I really have not questioned moving forward," Clement said.

The 30-year-old Clement, who is married and a father of four, said he plans to use the time to finish up school.

Clement majored in communications at Southern California and said he hopes to transfer his remaining credits to another school.

The left-handed hitter made national headlines in high school, belting 75 home runs for Marshalltown. He capped off his high school career by guiding the Bobcats to the 2002 Class 4-A title.

The success carried on into college, where Clement won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top catcher.

In 2005, he was part of a loaded draft class that included Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen. Seattle made Clement its prized pick that year by selecting him third overall, following Upton and Gordon.

But Clement never could live up to the hype or his previous success.

Injuries plagued him most of his career, as he appeared in just 152 games during parts of four seasons with the Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He spent all of last season with the Rochester Red Wings, a Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. In 123 games, Clement hit .220 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs, and 70 RBIs.

"I was open to playing again this season and didn't get the opportunity that I was hoping to get," Clement said. "There were some -- just nothing that I could really pull the trigger on."

Clement said he wasn't surprised that none of the offers included a chance at a major league camp.

"I think it was just time to move on," Clement said.

Clement and his family currently live in Ankeny. He didn't rule out a return to baseball as a coach.

He finishes his big-league career with a .218 batting average and 14 home runs.

"I feel like I greatly underachieved, just to put it frankly," he said.

Despite the struggles, Clement said he has no regrets.

"I feel like I've played hard," he said. "I worked really hard to have the opportunities that I had.

"I did the best that I could."