Oakland Athletics rookie center fielder Denzel Clarke continues to electrify, making yet another spectacular catch on Monday night. This time, he soared high above the wall to rob the Los Angeles Angels’ Nolan Schanuel of a home run, adding another incredible highlight to his rapidly growing reel.
The jaw-dropping play occurred in the bottom of the first inning. With one out and nobody on base, Schanuel launched a 1-0 splitter from A’s pitcher Grant Holman deep into left-center field. Clarke, showcasing his exceptional athleticism, tracked the ball perfectly. He raced back, planted his right foot halfway up the wall in a perfectly timed leap, and gripped the top of the barrier for support. Extending his upper body several feet beyond the fence, Clarke made an astounding backhand grab with his left arm fully stretched out.
After the incredible snag, Clarke let out a triumphant roar. Schanuel, in utter disbelief, simply gazed out at the outfield, while Holman, the pitcher, held his hands above his head in sheer amazement.
This isn’t an isolated incident for Clarke. Since his May 23 debut, he’s consistently delivered highlight-reel defensive plays. Just a week and a half ago, in his native Toronto, he famously robbed the Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk of a home run. Furthermore, on Friday against Baltimore in Sacramento, he executed another remarkable backhand grab, sprinting full speed into the left-center wall to deny Jorge Mateo an extra-base hit. Clarke’s defensive prowess is quickly establishing him as one of MLB’s most exciting young talents.