If Denzel Clarke grew up in California, Florida or Texas, he may already be a Major League ballplayer. Living in Canada, the weather kept his athletic body from getting onto a baseball field enough.
For the past six weeks, Clarke displayed his skills in the warm sunshine of the Arizona Fall League. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound outfielder scored 25 runs in 19 games, batting .382 and playing superb defense. He played in the AFL All-Star Game.
MESA, AZ: Denzel Clarke of the Mesa Solar Sox shows sprinter’s speed on the way to scoring against … [+]
“I love playing baseball, especially defense,” Clarke said. “I got started in the game a little later than some other guys, but I think I can catch up to them by working hard, hustling on every play.”
Clarke’s impersonation of a runaway freight train on a routine third out in an AFL game got big checkmarks from scouts. Clarke was on second base and had a Mesa Solar Sox runner ahead of him on third. The batter lifted an ordinary two-out fly ball towards left field. Clarke took off as if fleeing a burning building and crossed home plate just behind his teammate as the ball fell into the fielder’s glove to end the inning.
Nothing to see there – unless you are seeking an exceptional athlete who refuses to coast.
MESA, AZ: Denzel Clarke of the Oakland Athletics bats during a spring training game against the … [+]
“I just go out and play hard,” Clarke said. “That’s the only thing I can actually control.”
That attitude in turn helped control his immediate future. On Nov. 19, the Athletics added Clarke to their 40-man roster. He’s protected from being lost in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, where another ballclub surely would have selected him.
“Denzel has been a big story down there (Arizona),” A’s general manager David Forst told MLB.com. “He’s showing off his speed and everything he can do in center field.”
By the time the Athletics find their way into a permanent home in Las Vegas in 2028, Clarke hopes to have found a way to turn his skills into being a polished MLB player.
The New York Mets saw enough of him in high school to draft him in the 36th round in 2018. Clarke wisely went to college instead, going where sunshine enabled him to play all the time at Cal State Northridge in 2019.
Though still raw compared to more experienced players in 2021, Clarke batted .324 with 8 homers and 11 doubles in 38 games, stealing 15 bases in 17 tries and playing fine outfield defense.
The Athletics made him a fourth-round pick and signed him for $700,000 as the 127th choice overall. That money was more than 28 players picked ahead of him received.
PHOENIX: Denzel Clarke of Team Canada prior to Game 9 of Pool C between Team Mexico and Team Canada … [+]
In 2022, he hit 15 homers and went 30-for-33 stealing bases. He played for Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. A left shoulder injury limited him in minor-league play in 2023, but he still went 11-for-12 on the bases and hit 12 homers in 64 games.
In 135 games combined between Double-A Midland and the AFL this year, he hit .286 with 99 runs, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 15 homers, 66 RBI and 45 steals in 56 tries. At age 24, he is gaining ground on his quest to play in the majors.
The Athletic Athletic’s Family
Clarke comes from quite an athletic family. No wonder some have compared his potential ceiling to former two-sport star Bo Jackson.
His cousins are regulars for the American League Central champion Cleveland Guardians, Josh and Bo Naylor. A third cousin, Myles Naylor, is in the Athletics’ farm system. His mother Donna was a Canadian track star in the 1984 Olympics. Another cousin, Gavin Smellie, ran the 4×100-meter relay for Canada at the 2012 Olympics. His uncle, Kevin Smellie, was a Canadian Football League running back.
LONDON: Oluseyi Smith and Gavin Smellie of Canada react after the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay Final on Day … [+]
“My mom taught me so much, I owe anything I have to her,” Clarke said. “She lived it as an athlete, the hard work, the dedication, all the training. She gave me advice. I go out and compete to honor her.”
Baseball greats Miguel Cabrera and Adrian Beltre are next on Clarke’s list of idols. Neither has a chance of catching mom.
As for the Naylor brothers, Clarke told Gerard Gilberto of MiLB.com back in 2022 that his personality is probably somewhere in between the super-charged Josh and more laid-back Bo.
He Must Hit To Be A Hit
Clarke must make better contact at the plate. He has struck out in 35% of his at-bats as a pro. That was one of the things his tried to work on this fall; he whiffed in 23 of 76 at-bats, 29%. That’s still behind the 2024 MLB average of 25%.
“I want to get better in every part of my game,” Clarke said. “I’m never satisfied.”
His manager at Midland, Bobby Crosby, was impressed.
OAKLAND: Bobby Crosby of the Oakland Athletics attempts to throw out Edgar Martinez of the Seattle … [+]
“I’ve never seen an athlete like him,” Crosby told mrt.com. “He’s a supreme athlete. He can run down balls. He’s taking pride on how he goes about his routes, how he goes about things. Yes, he’s a special athlete.”
Crosby was the AL Rookie of the Year 20 years ago after hitting 22 homers at age 24 for Oakland.
Clarke won’t play in Oakland as the Athletics have moved to Sacramento until their new park in Las Vegas is built. He may not even play in Sacramento for awhile as he needs more experience. The athletic Athletic, however, is a good futures bet in Vegas.
