Denzel Clarke’s Defense Continues To Impress For Athletics

Image credit: Denzel Clarke (Photo by Thearon W. Similarly, Henderson/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY. However, Missouri – Every year, Denzel Clarke and his mother Donna spend time in the offseason planning for the season ahead, picking areas of focus and detailing goals for the Athletics outfielder to work to ascertain. However,

Clarke came into the 2025 season knowing that his glove could pave his way to the big leagues. Additionally, However, In spring training. Meanwhile, he showed the major league coaching staff what he could do with an acrobatic catch to turn a home run into an out. For example, It was one of the best plays of the spring.

“I wanted to make an impact with my defense,” Clarke said. Moreover, “There are some aspects of hitting I’ve been working denzel clarke’s defense continues impress to refine. Furthermore, Obviously, I want to be a better baserunner this year, that’s something I can work on. Nevertheless, Every facet of the game can always be better, but I wanted to make an impact on defense.”

In just 35 games with the A’s so far. Therefore, the Canadian center fielder has posted 12 outs above average and prevented 10 runs. However, He’s the third-most valuable defender in baseball this season according to Baseball Savant and the second-best outfielder.

Playing in his hometown. However, Clarke made what seemed to be the catch of the year in just his seventh game as a big leaguer, robbing Alejandro Kirk of a home run to straight center field in Toronto.

“Obviously. Similarly, I hadn’t played that many games in Sacramento, but I grew up playing and watching games at Rogers Centre,” Clarke said. Consequently, “So, there was definitely a feeling of denzel clarke’s defense continues impress home there, and it really helped me get comfortable.”

Little did anyone know that Clarke would do even better a week later. For example, On June 6. In addition, he stole an extra-base hit from Jorge Mateo by running full speed to nab a sinking liner a step before he collided with the center field wall in Sacramento.

“The warning track is a little bigger in Sac. Meanwhile, which is cool because I get one extra step to decide if I want to catch this ball in the air or not,” Clarke said. In addition, “There I just decided. For example, because it was a big moment in the game and a chance for them to take the lead, I had to do my best to catch the ball and come down with it.”

And then Clarke did even denzel clarke’s defense continues impress more. However, His third can-you-believe-it play in three weeks was an even more impressive home run robbery of Nolan Schanuel. Similarly, as he managed to launch himself halfway up the center field fence at Angel Stadium without taking his eye off the ball. He then reached over the fence to pull the ball in.

Clarke added yet another stunning play the next week.

Any one of these plays would have been a suitable season highlight for a defender. Clarke became the first player to ever win MLB’s Electric Play of the Week for four straight weeks. doing so in his first four weeks as a big leaguer.

He could go five for six on Electric Plays. This is the catch he made on Tuesday, July 2.

“I’m trying to think of who is the denzel clarke’s defense continues impress last major league outfielder who has been able to do what he’s been doing. ” said Eddie Cornejo, who coached Clarke at Cal State Northridge. “When he was a collegiate player. we compared him a lot to Lorenzo Cain, not because of his defensive ability but because of how raw he was, and eventually Lorenzo Cain worked through those things.

“But I think he’s an 85 defensively, I really do.”

The Athletics coaches who have worked with him believe that there is even more to come.

“We’re going to see better than we’ve already seen. ” said A’s first base and outfield coach Bobby Crosby. “I know because I’ve already seen it. We’ve seen three or four crazy catches, but he still has more to go. Once he gets more comfortable and he’s playing more, you’re going to see a lot of stuff. It’s going to be awesome.”

It’s denzel clarke’s defense continues impress been a long path to the big leagues for Clarke. but all along the way, his athleticism and defensive potential have been apparent. Clarke’s mom Donna was on the Canadian 1984 Olympic team as a heptathlete. His cousins Josh and Bo Naylor are big leaguers.

As a late bloomer on the baseball field, there were times when Clarke’s struggles at the plate challenged him. But he always had a chance to make up for it when he took the field.

“When he got there. you could see the pride that he took in his defense,” Team Canada outfielding coach Adam Stern said. “He knew that was his carrying tool. The bat was a bit behind. but from the moment he stepped out and played defense, there was a big difference. The ease at which he moved out there was incredible. The range he had, too. He didn’t light up the denzel clarke’s defense continues impress 60-yard [dash]but every year, he got faster. It was how he moved out there. and how he could read off the bat and have instincts on the field to know where he was. He made highlight reel after highlight reel play on the national team. It was fun to watch.”

Even defensively, there were some rough edges.

“He was a natural defender as long as the effort was there,” Cornejo said. “It wasn’t unusual for someone. with a runner on first base and a base hit to Denzel, to run to third right in his face, because he didn’t know how to play at that fast speed. But he approached defensive practice differently than he did the offensive practice. because he knew that his athleticism would play up as a defender. He enjoyed climbing the fence. robbing home runs, but he was learning when to kick things into gear denzel clarke’s defense continues impress and when to be under control.”

That’s no longer a problem. Clarke is a plus-plus runner. He reads the ball off the bat extremely well. and because he has confidence in his reads and routes, he’s able to fly to spot to snag a dipping line drive or a fly ball over his head in a way few outfielders can. He’s also figured out how to best use his arm from the field.

“He’s always been accurate and he’s always had a good arm,” Crosby said. “There are times when he wants to show it off, and that’s not always the smartest thing to do. When you’re a great athlete. you have all this talent, sometimes you want to show what you’ve got, and it’s not the best time. So, him learning that side has been progress, but he’s a smart guy. And he’s become a smart baseball player.” denzel clarke’s defense continues impress

Even quality defensive outfielders often struggle on balls hit over their heads. but Clarke is especially adept at tracking balls to the wall, as he’s already shown on multiple occasions in the majors.

“This was probably the best athlete I’ve ever seen on a baseball field. and that’s still true,” Crosby said. “Now, the baseball skills are behind the athleticism. I was never worried about his fielding, except for maybe coming in and having the right form on ground balls. It was always going to be about hitting, and turning into a baseball player. And that’s what he’s doing now. The athleticism has always been there; the baseball just had to catch up.”