Athletics center fielder Denzel Clark (1) lines out to right field against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Watch: Athletics outfielder's first MLB homer has extra meaning

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated May 31, 2025 4:33 PM ET

Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke accomplished a major milestone on Saturday, and the setting made the accomplishment even more special.

Clarke made his MLB debut on May 23. He had mostly struggled at the plate through his first seven games with the A's, but he blasted a towering two-run home run in the top of the second inning of the Athletics' game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The homer, which gave the A's a 5-4 lead, was the first of Clarke's career. It also came to his hometown, as he was born and raised in Toronto.

May 1, 2000: Denzel Clarke is born in Toronto

May 31, 2025: Denzel Clarke hits his first career MLB homer in Toronto! pic.twitter.com/czjXmBLKX1
— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025

A player's first career home run is meaningful enough. The fact that Clarke belted his in the place where he grew up had to make it feel even better for him.

Clarke seemed like he felt right at home at the Rogers Centre. In addition to the homer on Saturday, he went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI on Friday.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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