Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

A toolsy high school outfielder from Ontario, Clarke played on the Canadian U-18 Junior National Team and was selected by the Mets late in the 2018 Draft. A cousin of Cleveland first baseman/outfielder Josh Naylor and prospect Bo Naylor, Clarke went on to Cal State Northridge and kind of flew under the radar for much of the 2021 season, though his loud tools started to get more attention as the spring wore on.

Clarke gets a lot of his athleticism from his mother, who was an Olympic heptathlete at the 1984 Summer Games. He’s learned to translate his plus speed on the basepaths to be an effective basestealer and to cover a lot of ground in the outfield. He did a better job this spring using his tools more consistently overall at the plate with a strikeout rate that was trending in the right direction, with plenty of raw power still to tap into. There is still some concern about the swing-and-miss, and while he punished fastballs this year, he did struggle more against spin.

A center fielder exclusively this year, Clarke does have the chance to play there because of that speed, and some scouts feel he can stay there with some tweaks with his first step and angles on fly balls, though some think it might be safer to move him to a corner given his 6-foot-5 frame. There’s some ceiling here that comes with a little risk, with some team sure to bet on the tools at the next level.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Clarke did not take up baseball until age 10, but you wouldn’t know it based on how natural he looks on the diamond. After playing for the U-18 Canadian Junior National team just a handful of years after picking up the sport in his native Toronto, the A’s drafted him in 2021 out of Cal State Northridge and signed him above slot for $700,000 as a fourth-round pick. Considered one of the organization’s most exciting prospects in quite some time, he appeared primed for a move to Triple-A in 2023 after hitting .261 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles, four triples and 11 stolen bases in his first 64 games at Double-A Midland until a left shoulder strain in July sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

It’s easy to see where Clarke gets his athleticism from. His family ties include baseball-playing cousins Josh, Bo and Myles Naylor, who was a 2023 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick by the A’s. Clarke brings a volatility that reminds some in the organization of watching a young Bo Jackson. He has worked to improve his overall hitting mechanics, though the swing-and-miss remains high, especially when facing pitches with good spin. When he puts the ball in play, the results are impressive with power to all fields.

Clarke’s strong arm and plus speed, which also makes him a serious threat on the basepaths, enable him to handle center field well, but his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame and continued injury concerns might make right field a better long-term spot. The main focus for the A’s is to get the incredibly toolsy outfielder through a full season healthy while continuing to refine his raw tools with a full campaign of at-bats.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

For a guy who didn’t pick up a baseball until the age of 10, Clarke sure looks like a natural on the diamond. He was selected to the U-18 Canadian Junior National team just a handful of years after picking up the sport in his native Toronto. Drafted by the A’s in 2021 out of Cal State Northridge and signing above slot value at $700,000 as a fourth-round pick, he emerged as one of the organization’s most exciting prospects in quite some time with a solid showing in his first full professional season last year. He made more strides in year two, though he was slowed a bit by a shoulder strain.

With family ties that include baseball players for cousins in Josh and Bo Naylor, as well as an Olympic heptathlete in his mother, Donna, it’s no wonder why Clarke is such a superb athlete. The hitting mechanics remain raw, as he does come with a good amount of swing-and-miss, particularly against pitches with good spin, though the A’s are still hoping he can clean them up. But he brings excitement whenever he puts the ball in play, both with impressive raw power to all fields and fast-twitch actions.

Clarke does not profile as a center fielder from a body standpoint given his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, though his plus speed and strong arm make him more than capable of handling the position on a regular basis. That speed also makes him a serious threat on the basepaths. With arguably the most exciting tools of any prospect in the system, he will continue to be a fun player to watch as he works to refine his tools.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Although Clarke didn’t pick up a baseball until the age of 10, the Toronto native’s unique athleticism helped him quickly pick up the game in time to become a member of the U-18 Canadian Junior National team. He was originally drafted out of high school by the Mets in 2018 but elected the college route by moving to the United States. It was his continued development at Cal State Northridge that put him on the A’s radar. Enamored with Clarke’s toolsy profile, Oakland went above slot value to sign him for $700,000 as a fourth-round selection in the 2021 Draft.

Clarke seems to have inherited genes from an athletic family that includes an Olympic heptathlete in his mother, Donna, as well as cousins who also happen to be professional baseball players in Josh and Bo Naylor. He’s a quick-twitch athlete whose plus speed makes him a serious threat running the bases. As expected for a player less experienced than other prospects, Clarke has room to grow in his approach at the plate, as he does swing and miss often at pitches with some spin. His raw power is evident, though, with the ability to crush fastballs well out of the yard to the opposite field.

Clarke’s ability to move around allows him to play center, but with his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, he’s likely to end up as a corner outfielder. He has all the makings of what you want in terms of player development, from the body type to his raw tools. Now he just needs to play every day.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

A toolsy high school outfielder from Ontario, Clarke played on the Canadian U-18 Junior National Team and was selected by the Mets late in the 2018 Draft. A cousin of Cleveland first baseman/outfielder Josh Naylor and prospect Bo Naylor, Clarke went on to Cal State Northridge and kind of flew under the radar for much of the 2021 season, though his loud tools started to get more attention as the spring wore on and he showed the A’s enough for them to take him in the fourth round of the Draft and sign him for an above-slot $700,000.

Clarke gets a lot of his athleticism from his mother, who was an Olympic heptathlete at the 1984 Summer Games. He’s learned to translate his plus speed on the basepaths to be an effective basestealer and to cover a lot of ground in the outfield. He did a better job this spring using his tools more consistently overall at the plate with a strikeout rate that was trending in the right direction, with plenty of raw power still to tap into. There is still some concern about the swing-and-miss, and while he punished fastballs this year, he did struggle more against spin.

A center fielder exclusively this year, Clarke does have the chance to play there because of that speed, and some scouts feel he can stay there with some tweaks with his first step and angles on fly balls, though some think it might be safer to move him to a corner given his 6-foot-5 frame. There’s some ceiling here that comes with a little risk, with a toolsy everyday big league outfielder a potential outcome.

Awards

TEX Player of the Month

Month	Team
07/2024

TEX Player of the Week

Week	Team
04/30/2023

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2022

CAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
04/17/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/19/2024	Athletics selected the contract of CF Denzel Clarke from Midland RockHounds.
	11/08/2024	American League Fall Stars activated CF Denzel Clarke.
	09/25/2024	CF Denzel Clarke assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	11/06/2023	Midland RockHounds activated OF Denzel Clarke from the 60-day injured list.
	08/22/2023	Midland RockHounds transferred OF Denzel Clarke from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	04/24/2023	Midland RockHounds activated OF Denzel Clarke from the 7-day injured list.
	04/06/2023	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Midland RockHounds.
	04/06/2023	Midland RockHounds placed OF Denzel Clarke on the 7-day injured list.
	02/09/2023	Canada activated OF Denzel Clarke.
	12/20/2022	OF Denzel Clarke roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	12/20/2022	OF Denzel Clarke roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	12/20/2022	Oakland Athletics invited non-roster OF Denzel Clarke to spring training.
	09/16/2022	Mesa Solar Sox activated OF Denzel Clarke.
	09/16/2022	Mesa Solar Sox activated OF Denzel Clarke.
	08/30/2022	Lansing Lugnuts activated OF Denzel Clarke from the 7-day injured list.
	08/30/2022	Lansing Lugnuts activated OF Denzel Clarke from the 7-day injured list.
	08/25/2022	Lansing Lugnuts placed OF Denzel Clarke on the 7-day injured list.
	07/21/2022	Lansing Lugnuts activated OF Denzel Clarke from the temporarily inactive list.
	07/15/2022	Lansing Lugnuts placed OF Denzel Clarke on the temporarily inactive list.
	07/07/2022	OF Denzel Clarke and assigned to American League Futures.
	06/14/2022	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Stockton Ports.
	04/05/2022	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Stockton Ports.
	03/27/2022	OF Denzel Clarke roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	03/27/2022	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Oakland Athletics.
	09/29/2021	ACL Athletics activated OF Denzel Clarke from the 60-day injured list.
	08/24/2021	ACL Athletics placed OF Denzel Clarke on the 60-day injured list.
	08/13/2021	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to ACL Athletics.
	07/26/2021	Oakland Athletics signed OF Denzel Clarke.
	03/07/2018	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Canada Jr. Team.
	09/12/2017	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Ontario-Black.
	07/28/2017	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to UA National.
	03/21/2017	OF Denzel Clarke assigned to Canada Jr. Team.