White Cleat Beat
Fansided

Oakland A’s prospect Denzel Clarke makes professional baseball history

By David Hill

Jul 16, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; American League Futures right fielder Denzel Clarke (5) makes a catch at the wall on a ball hit by National League Futures catcher Diego Cartaya (not pictured) in the seventh inning of the All Star-Futures Game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; American League Futures right fielder Denzel Clarke (5) makes a catch at the wall on a ball hit by National League Futures catcher Diego Cartaya (not pictured) in the seventh inning of the All Star-Futures Game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Denzel Clarke has already started turning heads. The Oakland A’s 15th best prospect according to MLB.com had earned a midseason promotion to High-A Lansing and was named to the All Star Futures Game this year. Even if he is not necessarily considered a top prospect yet, he is generating plenty of attention.

Clarke is about to earn even more attention after his recent exploits. He had an inside the park homer in back to back games, the first time in professional baseball history that happened.

Denzel Clarke has already made baseball history

Clarke certainly needed those hits. He had struggled initially upon his promotion to the Lansing Lugnuts but appears to be finding his groove. He has eight hits, including three doubles and three homers, in his last 31 plate appearances, drawing four walks and stealing a pair of bases. This is much closer to his production in Stockton which had caused him to start generating attention in the first place.

It should not be a surprise that Clarke is putting together that type of performance now that he is settling in. He has been lauded for his plus speed and power potential, although his overall game is raw as he did not start playing baseball until he was ten years old. It will come down to how well the A’s are going to be able to develop him as to whether or not he can reach his potential.

The early returns have been promising thus far. Clarke is showing the potential to be an exciting part of the A’s future, a potential all around talent that can slot anywhere in the outfield. However, no matter how his professional career turns out, it has been a historic one.

Next. Soderstrom heads to Double-A. dark

Oakland A’s prospect Denzel Clarke hit inside the park homers in consecutive games. It is the first time that happened in professional baseball history.