It was a good year for Canadian baseball. Over 24 affiliated Canadians stepped foot on a big league diamond in 2025, including newcomers Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.), Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.), and Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.).

Another newcomer to the Major Leagues in 2025 was Denzel Clarke, the latest of the Naylor/Clarke lineage to play on the biggest stage after Josh and Bo Naylor.

Drafted by the Athletics in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, the Pickering, Ont. product divulged what a whirlwind of a campaign it was.

“It was a pretty crazy, a wave of us got called up all at once, and we all heard our name get called by the manager, and he told us we were going to the big leagues,” explained Clarke, speaking to Blue Jays Nation at the Baseball Canada awards banquet. “It was a pretty surreal moment. It was almost like time stopped, just realizing that your dreams have been accomplished. And just as quickly as time stopped, it started back up again really quickly. I had to back up my stuff, get go back to the hotel, and call my family too.”

Clarke started the season in Triple-A, racking up a .286/.436/.419 slash line in Las Vegas by mid-May. The right-handed batter was optioned to the minor leagues during spring training and then missed some time out of the gate with an injury, limiting him to just 15 games through the end of April.

On May 23rd, Clarke got the news he was waiting for – he was heading to the big leagues. The A’s made numerous transactions that day, most notably sending down JJ Bleday to Las Vegas, opening the door for a big league spot for Clarke.

It took the Ontario product a few games to get going, earning his first MLB hit in his fourth contest on the road against the Houston Astros. Shortly after, Clarke found himself at the Rogers Centre, playing against the Blue Jays in a stadium he was familiar with from growing up North of the border. Numerous family and friends were in attendance to watch the Canuck play, and he didn’t disappoint those who came to see him in person.

After going hitless as a defensive replacement in game #1 of the series, he collected two hits in the second game, and then went off in the third contest. With a 0-0 count against Blue Jays right-hander Braydon Fisher, who was making the spot start that day, Clarke pounced on a first-pitch inside fastball and deposited it over the left field wall. The 94.4 MPH offering went 406 feet, launching off the bat at 106.5 MPH for the two-run knock that landed in the second deck and put the A’s ahead 5-4.

“Going into that series, I knew I had been struggling a bit at the plate, and I really went into that series knowing my family and friends would be here, but I also had to play well and try and give them a show,” said Clarke. “I was looking to be aggressive early in the count, he (Braydon Fisher) came at me with the heater, and I just put a really good swing on it.

“To do that in Canada, to get my first big league home run in front of so many friends and family in attendance. That will forever be a special moment.”

That wasn’t Clarke’s only contribution for that series. The 6-foot-4 centre fielder is widely known for his defensive plays coming up through the A’s farm system, and he put that on display for the Jays crowd.

During the second game of the series, Alejandro Kirk started off the top of the fourth inning with a deep drive to centre field. Clarke tracked the ball well and met Kirk’s hit at the top of the wall, robbing the Jays’ catcher of a solo home run that caught the attention and applause from the crowd.

Clarke is no stranger to making the highlight reel grabs – he won the 2025 Capital One Premier Play of the Year Award thanks to his home run saving grab against the Los Angeles Angels on June 9th, scaling the left-centre field wall to bring back the ball. He made numerous other highlight reel diving plays as well, showcasing his ability to track the ball well in the Athletics outfield.

“That one (home run grab in Toronto) will be one I remember for a long time, just to kind of break the ice and relax the shoulders a bit,” said Clarke. “I know the one at Angel Stadium, I get a lot of recognition for which is awesome to see. They all have their own significance, and ultimately, each play is important to me. I love playing in the field and getting to showcase what I can do.”

Clarke found himself suiting up in 47 games for the Athletics, missing a good portion of the back half of the season while he recovered from a right adductor strain he suffered in mid-July. Across 148 at-bats, Clarke posted a .230/.274/.372 slash line with a .646 OPS, 78 OPS+, and a 75 wRC+.

The Canadian amassed a .281 wOBA and a .369 BABIP with a .142 ISO, collecting eight doubles, two triples, and three home runs with eight RBIs. His strikeout numbers were a bit high at a 38.4% rate, something Clarke is looking to improve upon during the upcoming campaign with the Athletics. Clarke figures to be a key contributor for the club’s centre field spot, especially after they dealt Bleday to the Reds earlier this winter.

On top of preparing for the upcoming campaign, Clarke is getting ready for the World Baseball Classic, where he should be one of the key members of the Canadian outfield picture.

The Ontario product is no stranger to representing Canada at the international stage; he was a member of the Junior National Team under Greg Hamilton and the 2023 WBC squad, where he suited up for three games.

“I’m excited,” explained Clarke. “It’s my second one, and we’re going to be down in Puerto Rico. I love wearing the red and white, and I take a lot of pride in representing my country. We have a really good squad this year, and I am excited to showcase what we’ve got.”

With an exciting 2025 rookie campaign in the books (he exceeded the eligibility requirements despite his injury), outfielder Denzel Clarke is looking to build upon his first big league season and become a staple in the Athletics roster for seasons to come.

With an important spring training and the upcoming World Baseball Classic tournament on the horizon, Clarke will be busy over the coming months as he gets ready for his first full season on a MLB roster.

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