CBN Players of the Week, Week IV: Clarke, Cruz

Toronto Mets alum Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) batted .500 and clubbed four home runs for the Oakland A’s double-A Midland RockHounds last week, while Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) had eight hits and six RBIs for the Detroit Tigers’ double-A Erie Seawolves. They are co-winners of the Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week honours. Photos: Midland RockHounds, Erie Seawolves

May 3, 2023

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

How often do two Canadian-born players win players of the week in their respective leagues?

In the same week we mean?

Denzel Clarke had 41 days between starts ... he was in right field when Canada was eliminated by a 10-3 score by Mexico at the World Baseball Classic and did not return until April 25 with the Midland RockHounds.

Batting ninth and DHing, Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) “eased” himself back into play with two homers and five RBIs. He scored four times and knocked in five. It turned out Midland needed all of those nine runs produced by Clarke as they scored a 15-14 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks.

Toronto Mets OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) had a four-homer week as he returned to the double-A Midland Rockhounds. Photo: Midland RockHounds

And off he was on his way to winning the double-A Texas League honours for April 24-30.

It would be a valid thought, if you figured that a player being activated from a rehab stint might take a few games to get acclimated, but Clarke proved that theory is not always accurate.

* * *

Meanwhile in Erie it was pretty scary for double-A Eastern League hitters facing Trei Cruz. Cruz, who was born in Toronto, when his father Jose patrolled the outfield for the Toronto Blue Jays had the same number of hits (eight) as Clarke and six RBIs.

So we thought it only fair that the Clarke and Cruz shared Canadian Baseball Network player of the week honours for Week IV.

* * *

Activated this week by the Oakland A’s at Midland, Clarke homered in his second at-bat, a two-run shot to centre giving Midland a 4-2 lead, in the seventh, he hit a three-run homer to left cutting the deficit to 11-7, he walked an scored in the eighth making it 14-12 Corpus and then he walked in the bottom of the ninth to score the winning run in the walk-off win in front of 3,150 fans at Momentum Bank Ballpark.

In his second game back, a 7-6 loss to Corpus, he was 2-for-4 with three RBIs before 2,915 fans. Leading off the third inning, Clarke homered to right field giving Midland a 2-1 lead and in the bottom of the ninth hit a run-scoring double cutting the deficit to 7-5.

After a day off, he was hitting lead off and playing right field going 1-for-4 in a 4-3 loss. Clarke walked in the fifth and he doubled in the bottom of the ninth.

After another day off, he was in centre and hitting fifth, going 3-for-5 with an RBI in an 11-3 win before 3,615. Clarke singled to third in the fifth, doubled to left in the sixth and hit a line drive homer to left centre for Midland’s final run.

In four games against Corpus Christi, he had 16 at bats and eight base hits, scoring nine times, with three doubles, four home runs, nine RBIs and an average of .500.

Those outstanding numbers, could be best described as a dream week for any pro ballplayer, resulted in him being named Player of the Week twice.

* * *

Growing up with a grandfather, Jose Cruz (2,251 hits) and a father Jose, Jr. (1,167) who were both excellent big leaguers must have added some stress for a young Trei Cruz, who is now in the early stages of his own career as he tries to add to the family’s hit total ... already at 3,418.

Rice Owls grad Trei Cruz, who was born in Toronto, gained double-A Eastern League honours

Only 24, and now active with Detroit Tigers affiliate at Erie, he continues to show some real potential and this past week enjoyed a very productive five games, all against the Portland Sea Dogs.

Hitting ninth and playing centre field, he was hitless in a 3-2 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs before 683 fans at UMPC Park.

Next, playing shortstop and batting ninth, he was hitless in a 6-1 loss to the Sea Dogs in front of 586 fans.

After a day off, he was batting ninth and playing short, he went 3-for-4 with an RBI in a 12-3 loss in front of 953 fans. Cruz doubled to right to knock in a run tying the score 1-1, singled to centre in the fourth and singled to left in the sixth.

Batting seventh and playing third, he was 4-for-5 with four RBIs in an 11-10 loss before 1,711 in 10 innings. Cruz singled to left leading off the second, hit his second homer of the season, this one to left centre for a 6-5 lead in the fifth, homered again, this time to centre, tying the score at 8-8, and singled in the eighth.

Playing short and batting sixth, he was 1-for-3 with an RBI in a 6-2 10-inning loss. Cruz hit a solo homer to left centre for a 2-0 lead and walked in the ninth.

In 19 at bats he had eight base hits, scored five runs with one double, three home runs, six RBIs, ending the week with .421 average.

Best Offensive Performances

Name Class Team At bats Runs Hits HR RBIs AVG

Denzel Clarke AA Midland 16 9 8 4 9 .500

Trei Cruz AA Erie 19 5 8 3 6 .421

Liam Hicks A Hickory 12 2 5 - - .417

Damiano Palmegiani AA New Hampshire 18 3 7 2 3 .389

Owen Caissie AA Tennessee 18 1 6 - 2 .333

Charles Leblanc AAA Jacksonville 15 3 5 1 5 .333

Kole Cottam IND Frederick 12 2 4 1 1 .333

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best Pitching Performances

Name Class Team G W S ERA IP K WHIP

James Paxton AAA Worcester 1 1 - 0.00 5.1 8 0.588

James Paxton is fully aware of the commitment and dedication it takes to return from a serious injury. After all, in 2021 with Seattle he missed most of the season with a forearm strain and, in 2022 with Boston he endured Tommy John surgery, again missing an entire season. So it’s safe to assume he was very familiar with the work process required to recover from a hamstring problem this year. Currently on a rehab assignment with Worcester Red Sox.

This week he had his best outing so far. On April 30 in a 5-0 win over Scranton Wilkes-Barre he pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed only two base hits and no runs while striking out eight Scranton hitters, to secure his first win in 2023. His overall record during his current five game rehab stint with Worcester, is now 1-3 with a 7.02 ERA.

Previous Players of the Week

Week I _ Edouard Julien (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) triple-A St. Paul Saints (Twins)

Week II _ Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) double-A Akron RuberDucks (Guardians).

Week III _ Abraham Toro (Longuiel, Que.) triple-A Nashville Sounds (Brewers)

Week IV _ Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) double-A Midland (A’s) and Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) double-A Erie (Tigers)