Canadian outfielder Denzel Clarke set to make big league debut with Athletics

The 2024 season was the first in which the outfielder played more than 100 games. Across 116 games at double-A Midland, he slashed .269/.339/.445, with 13 homers and 36 steals. He capped that season off by producing an OPS over 1.000 in the AFL, including two homers, nine steals, and a number of highlight-reel defensive plays in centerfield.

In Clarke’s move up to triple-A this year, he has maintained his on-base and speed numbers (seven steals), although his power hasn’t quite been there. He hasn’t hit a single home run across 31 games, although a career high walk rate of 17.3% has his on-base percentage at a blistering .436 mark.

Another positive from Clarke’s 2025 campaign has been his reduction of strikeouts. His career strikeout rate in the minor leagues is around 30%, but he’s managed a 21.8% rate so far this year. Swing and miss may continue to be a part of his game in the big leagues, but an improvement in this area is certainly a good sign. He also has the opportunity to be a plus defender in centerfield, despite being a bigger guy at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds.

Clarke will join his cousins Bo and Josh Naylor in the big leagues. They will have a chance to reunite when the Athletics host the Guardians from June 20-22, as well as when the Diamondbacks come to town from August 1-3.