Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In the Middle of 9-Game Skid, Athletics Make a Bold Move

Denzel Clarke is headed to The Show!

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In the throes of a nine-game losing streak and firmly entrenched near the bottom of the American League standings at 22–29, the Athletics are reaching into their farm system for help.

Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the A’s are promoting outfielder Denzel Clarke, the organization’s No. 5 prospect, in a move that signals both urgency and optimism. Clarke, 25, will be making his major league debut in the coming days, possibly as soon as this weekend during the team’s home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The A’s are shaking up their roster amid a nine-game losing streak and calling up centerfielder Denzel Clarke, one of their top prospects, sources tell ESPN. Clarke, 25, is hitting .286/.436/.419 at Triple-A and is excellent defensively. More moves could be coming as well.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 23, 2025

Clarke, a fourth-round pick from the 2021 draft, has risen steadily through the system. This year, he’s appeared in 31 games for Triple-A, slashing .286/.436/.419. While he hasn’t homered yet in 2024, his plate discipline has stood out: 23 walks to 29 strikeouts, a strong sign of his growing maturity as a hitter. Though power hasn’t been a huge part of his profile, his career high is 15 homers back in 2022, Clarke brings elite speed and defense to the table, along with occasional pop. He stole 39 bases at Double-A last year while batting .269 with 13 home runs.

Denzel Clarke Part of a Broader Athletics’ Pattern

His promotion is part of a broader pattern for the A’s, who have not been shy about aggressive call-ups. Nick Kurtz reached the majors after just 20 games in Triple-A. Lawrence Butler (22), Jacob Wilson (26), and Zack Gelof (69) were all fast-tracked, and now Clarke joins the group. The results have been mixed, but these players represent the core the A’s are hoping to build around, and perhaps someday contend with.

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Clarke’s arrival likely won’t be ceremonial. The A’s aren’t promoting him to sit. JJ Bleday, the team’s primary center fielder, is batting just .204 and is 1-for-15 over his last four games. Clarke, with his glove and range, is expected to bring immediate defensive improvement. Whether he hits enough to stick remains to be seen, but right now the A’s need a jolt, and Clarke might provide it.

The corresponding roster move hasn’t been finalized, though infielder Gio Urshela could be headed to the injured list. Further changes may follow as the front office continues to shuffle pieces in hopes of stopping the freefall. Clarke, a cousin of Bo and Josh Naylor, joins the A’s as they search for answers and identity.

Athletics

Denzel Clarke

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.