Blue Jays Nation’s countdown of the top Canadian baseball prospects continues with the first of a trio of hitters rounding out the top three on our list, with #3 having some strong family ties to the game of baseball.

Hometown: Pickering, ON

Organization: The Athletics

Position: Centre-fielder

Acquired: 4th round, 2021 draft (OAK)

Perhaps the most exciting prospect on this entire list, Denzel Clarke has been slowly climbing prospect rankings and is now on the cusp of the Major Leagues. His mother was an Olympic heptathlete, his uncle is a former CFL player, and he is cousins with the Naylor brothers – Bo, Josh, and Myles – which makes for an impressively athletic family tree. Some injury issues have slowed him down over the past couple of seasons, but Clarke has the chance to blossom into a star in 2025.

Clarke picked up the sport at 10 years old, playing his way onto the Canadian Junior National Team by the time he was 17. As you can imagine, he needed some time to refine his raw skills. After being drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in 2018, the right-handed hitting outfielder decided to attend Cal State-Northridge instead, where he’d play for the next three seasons. Clarke flashed an impressive power-speed combination in his time with the Matadors, culminating in being selected in the 4th round by the A’s in 2021.

The 2022 season was his first full campaign in pro ball, and he did not disappoint. Across 93 games split between single-A and high-A, he bopped 15 home runs and swiped 30 bases, slashing .248/.365/.469. He also held his own in his first of two Arizona Fall League stints, producing an OPS of .845 across 12 games.

The six-foot-four outfielder had the opportunity to play for Team Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, appearing in three games but failing to record a hit through eight at-bats. He then started his minor league season with double-A Midland, appearing in just 64 games while battling a shoulder injury. When he was on the field, Clarke continued to do his thing, slashing .261/.381/.496 with 12 home runs and 11 steals. He appeared to be poised to move up to triple-A and perhaps debut in the big leagues in 2024.

Due to his injury-shortened 2023 season, Clarke returned to double-A in 2024. He experienced some offensive struggles early, something that he had not to that point experienced as a professional. His power may have been somewhat compromised from his shoulder injury, as he hit just one more home run (13) than he did in 2023 despite almost 200 more plate appearances. Perhaps most curiously, his walk rate dropped to just 8.2% after posting a rate no lower than 12.8% in any previous stop. He ended up staying in Midland for the entire season, slashing .269/.339/.446 with a whopping 36 steals.

Despite his numbers taking a bit of a hit in 2024, the 24-year-old ended his season on a very high note. He appeared in the Arizona Fall League again, displaying all of the tools that have scouts and Canadian baseball fans so excited. He slashed a blistering .382/.495/.566 at the plate across 19 games for Mesa, establishing himself as one of the best hitters in the league. Clarke also showed off the entire spectrum of his game, swiping nine bases and making several highlight reel plays in centerfield. The A’s made sure to add him to their 40-man roster in November, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft, where he would have surely been selected.

Clarke is a true five-tool player who has the potential to be the biggest star in Canadian baseball. With his size, speed and ability to play centerfield defense, the sky is truly the limit for his game.

At the plate, he has the potential to develop into a 30-30 (30 home runs, 30 stolen bases) guy, something that only three players accomplished in 2024. If there’s a weakness to his offensive game right now, it’s that he strikes out a bit too frequently. He has produced strikeout rates around 30% throughout his time as a pro, which may be mostly due to his issues hitting spin. His high walk rates through the minor leagues show that he has a good command of the strike zone, meaning that he can still get on base at an above-average rate even if the strikeouts continue.

Despite him proving to be a plus centerfielder, there is a question of whether he will grow out of the position. He certainly has more of a body type for right field, where he could profile as one of the game’s best. Adding more weight over the next couple of years may be something that helps him in the power department at the plate while making it more likely he moves away from center field.

Due to the unique size and skillset that Clarke possesses, his major league ceiling may be something in the ballpark of Julio Rodriguez. Although this is unquestionably a lofty comparison, the Mariners outfielder may be the only other player that has comparable size, power, speed, and center field skills. A more likely outcome would be for the Ontario-born outfielder to end up as a plus right fielder who hits in the top half of a team’s lineup for the next decade, making a few all-star appearances along the way.

After up-and-down 2024, his experience in double-A and Arizona Fall League performance likely means he is ready for the next challenge. It isn’t out of the question that Clarke could earn a major league spot in spring training, especially on an A’s team that should be eager to play its young players. He will likely start in triple-A to open up the season, with his major league debut happening at some point over the summer.

4. Matt Wilkinson

5. Mitch Bratt

6. Adam Macko

7. Myles Naylor

8. Jonah Tong

9. Dylan O’Rae

10. Dante Nori

11. Erik Sabrowski

12. Damiano Palmegiani

13. Eric Cerantola

14. Dasan Brown

15. Émilien Pitre

16. Adam Maier

17. Liam Hicks

18. David McCabe

19. Calvin Ziegler

20. Jeremy Pilon