'Really cool moment': Clarke returns to Toronto as a big leaguer

TORONTO -- While going over the Athletics’ 2025 schedule shortly before the start of the regular season, Denzel Clarke check-marked his calendar for the May 29-June 1 four-game road series against the Blue Jays.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t,” Clarke said. “Obviously, I can’t control if they call me up or down. But my goal was to put myself in the best position to be called up.”

Clarke -- a Toronto native -- began the year at Triple-A Las Vegas and had never played above Double-A before this season, so there was no guarantee that he would make it up to the big leagues in time for the trip up north. Once the A’s called him up from the Minors last Friday, Clarke immediately realized his Canadian homecoming was on the horizon.

On Thursday, Clarke’s dream turned into reality. The A’s No. 5 prospect entered a 12-0 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in the sixth inning as a defensive replacement, and though he struck out twice in two at-bats, the results were secondary on this special night for the 25-year-old outfielder.

“I’m more excited than anything,” Clarke said before playing his first Major League game back in his hometown. “I’m really excited to just be back in front of family and friends.”

Of course, Clarke is plenty familiar with the ballpark in Toronto. He played several games at Rogers Centre as a teenager in the Blue Jays’ T12 Tournament -- recently renamed the Canadian Futures Showcase -- as part of the Baseball Canada program.

When he wasn’t playing on the field, Clarke attended plenty of Blue Jays games as a kid. He recalled a game in the mid-2000s, when then-Blue Jays infielder Aaron Hill hit a walk-off home run that landed near his seat beyond left field.

“When we were driving through the stadium, I saw certain gates where me and my homies would go through,” Clarke said. “When I was younger, I had some family friends who worked for the Jays and would get me tickets. … Now to be someone that plays here and is able to get tickets for other people, it’s truly a blessing.”

Clarke said he expects somewhere between 150-200 friends and family members to come watch him play over this four-game series. He only left about eight tickets for close friends and family members on Thursday. The rest paid their way, including a group seated just above the wall in left-center that greeted him with a standing ovation and chanted “Let’s Go Denzel!” each time he was at the plate.

“I’m sure it was some people I knew,” Clarke said. “Which was really cool. I spoke to them after the game and they said they were super excited.”

Selected by the A’s in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Clarke has had a quick rise to get to the highest level, including a chance to represent Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, despite getting a late start to the sport as he did not get introduced to baseball until around the age of 10. His supreme athleticism as a fast-twitch 6-foot-4, 220-pounder helped him overcome that obstacle, along with defense in center field that plenty of scouts inside and outside of the A’s organization rate as Gold Glove-caliber.

Offense is still a work in progress for Clarke. He’s now 1-for-19 with 15 strikeouts through six games. But the A’s plan to be patient as he works on improving that aspect of his game, believing in the serious raw power he could tap into once the swing-and-miss issues are shored up.

“The biggest adjustment comes on the offensive side,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve seen that from a lot of young players. … It takes time. It’s not for lack of effort or lack of work. He’s coming in early with us. We’re making some adjustments. The at-bats, he does know the strike zone pretty well. He will fight with two strikes. Unfortunately, the strikeouts have built up. But this is a great opportunity for him, and we’re going to keep giving him opportunities as long as we can.”

Even on a night the A’s will quickly look to forget, Clarke running out to center field and soaking in the view he dreamed of one day having is one he will always remember.

“I’m playing in the big leagues in front of family and friends,” Clarke said. “That’s a really cool moment. Not everyone can say they’ve done that.”