Jeff Passan at <a href="https://x.com/jeffpassan/status/1925757042402164894?s=46">ESPN</a> reported late last night that the Athletics are calling up outfield prospect Denzel Clarke to make his major league debut tonight against the Phillies. The Pickering, Ontario native will be the 17th Canadian to appear in the major leagues this year, as the team looks for a spark to end their nine-game losing streak.
Slotting in at number three on our <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-top-20-canadian-baseball-prospects-for-2025-3-denzel-clarke">pre-season ranking of top Canadian prospects</a>, Clarke was originally a fourth round pick out of Cal-State-Northridge back in 2021.
It&#8217;s been a slow and steady climb through the minor leagues, with injuries preventing him from advancing quickly despite strong offensive numbers. The 25-year old has twice played in the Arizona Fall League, once in 2022 and again after the 2024 season. He also played with Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇨🇦 BIG LEAGUE BOUND!
Congratulations to Denzel Clarke on being called up by the <a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Athletics</a>!
He’s set to become the 17th Canadian to play in the big leagues in 2025 and the 36th alum of our Junior National Team program to reach the majors since 1999.
From the red and white to… <a href="https://t.co/SDAss4tDCP">pic.twitter.com/SDAss4tDCP</a>
&mdash; Baseball Canada 🇨🇦⚾️ (@baseballcanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/baseballcanada/status/1925955217037684951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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&#8217;s move up to triple-A this year, he has maintained his on-base and speed numbers (seven steals), although his power hasn&#8217;t quite been there. He hasn&#8217;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&#8217;s 2025 campaign has been his reduction of strikeouts. His career strikeout rate in the minor leagues is around 30%, but he&#8217;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.
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Jeff Passan at <a href="https://x.com/jeffpassan/status/1925757042402164894?s=46">ESPN</a> reported late last night that the Athletics are calling up outfield prospect Denzel Clarke to make his major league debut tonight against the Phillies. The Pickering, Ontario native will be the 17th Canadian to appear in the major leagues this year, as the team looks for a spark to end their nine-game losing streak.

Slotting in at number three on our <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-top-20-canadian-baseball-prospects-for-2025-3-denzel-clarke">pre-season ranking of top Canadian prospects</a>, Clarke was originally a fourth round pick out of Cal-State-Northridge back in 2021.

It's been a slow and steady climb through the minor leagues, with injuries preventing him from advancing quickly despite strong offensive numbers. The 25-year old has twice played in the Arizona Fall League, once in 2022 and again after the 2024 season. He also played with Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

https://twitter.com/baseballcanada/status/1925955217037684951?s=46

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.

<hr />

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Celebrate <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">Vladdy’s big news</a> in style with the exclusive new <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">BlueJaysNation Vladdy merch</a> — available only at <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">NationGear.ca</a>! Rep a future Hall of Famer and wear your team's pride loud. Limited drop. Don’t miss out.

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

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