A's Clarke headed to IL

Toronto Mets and Junior National Team alum Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.), who has starred in centre field for the Athletics this season, is headed to the injured list with an abductor strain.

July 22, 2025

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Athletics centre fielder Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) is headed to the injured list with an abductor strain.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay informed reporters of the injury on Monday after Clarke underwent an MRI. The speedy Canadian had exited Sunday’s contest against the Guardians with right hip discomfort.

Clarke is expected to miss at least two weeks. A roster move will be officially announced on Tuesday.

“Really unfortunate timing for Denzel," Kotsay told reporters. “I think his confidence offensively was continuing to build, the at-bats were just getting better and better.”

The 25-year-old Toronto Mets and Junior National Team alum, who has dazzled with his defence in centre field, has batted .230 in his first 47 major league games since being called up on May 23. In his last 12 games, he was 14-for-42 (.333 batting average).

In 31 games for the triple-A Las Vegas Aviators prior to his promotion, Clarke batted .286 and posted a .436 on-base percentage. He had eight doubles, three triples and seven stolen bases.

Selected by the A’s in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB draft, Clarke is in his fifth pro season. He was the second former Toronto Mets player to make their major league debut this season, joining catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) of the Miami Marlins.