Denzel Clarke

Fantasy News

• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Hitless in spring debut

  Rotowire Feb 21, 2026

  Clarke (hip) started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a run scored in Saturday's Cactus League loss to the White Sox. Clarke made his spring debut Saturday in an uneventful outing, serving as the designated hitter and going hitless. The superb defender was limited to 47 regular-season games as a rookie in 2025 due to a nagging right adductor strain that sidelined him from MLB action beyond July 20. In 159 big-league plate appearances, he slashed .230/.274/.372 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, eight RBI and six stolen bases. While the offensive production was modest, Clarke's elite defense should position him as the Athletics' regular center fielder in 2026, health permitting.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Beginning rehab assignment

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2025

  Clarke (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Clarke hasn't played with the Athletics since July 20 due to a right adductor strain. It's unclear if he'll be able to make it back to the MLB lineup before Sunday's regular-season finale against the Royals. Las Vegas faces Tacoma in Game 1 of the PCL Championship on Tuesday, so Clarke will get some game action in the minors. The rookie center fielder has slashed .230/.274/.372 with three home runs, eight RBI, 18 runs scored, six stolen bases and a 6:61 BB:K across 159 big-league plate appearances this season.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Set to start running

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2025

  Clarke (hip) is scheduled to run the bases Friday and could begin a rehab assignment next week, MLB.com reports. Clarke has been sidelined since July 22 with a Grade 2 right adductor strain, and he reinjured the same adductor during a rehab game with Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 15. The Athletics have taken a very cautious approach with him since, but he's set to begin running Friday, which could lead to another rehab assignment next week if all goes smoothly. That raises the possibility of the center fielder returning before the end of the season, though the organization will continue to monitor his progress carefully.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Not hitting or running yet

  Rotowire Aug 25, 2025

  The Athletics announced Monday that Clarke (adductor) has yet to resume running or hitting, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Initially placed on the injured list July 22 due to a Grade 2 right adductor strain, Clarke made a rehab appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 15 but suffered a new Grade 2 strain of the same adductor in that game. While the Athletics have indicated that Clarke has made progress since then, he doesn't appear to be close to a return from the IL.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Suffers setback during rehab

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2025

  Clarke (hip) had a setback Friday in the midst of a minor-league rehab assignment and is returning to the Athletics to be evaluated, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Clarke went 1-for-2 in his first rehab game Friday, but he was pulled before getting a third plate appearance. It was thought that the rookie outfielder was on the verge of being activated off the injured list, but it now seems he'll be out at least a bit longer. A clearer picture of Clarke's timeline moving forward could emerge after he is evaluated.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Rehab assignment coming Friday

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2025

  Clarke (hip) is expected to start a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Las Vegas, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Clarke was sidelined July 22 with a Grade 2 right adductor strain but has progressed enough to begin a rehab assignment as he works toward a return to the majors. His overall numbers this season -- a .646 OPS across 47 games -- have been underwhelming, yet the rookie entered the injury break swinging the bat well. In 14 games during July, he posted a .298/.340/.574 slash line with a .914 OPS, six doubles, two triples, one homer, two steals and two RBI. While the 25-year-old is still working to establish himself offensively at the major-league level, Clarke's return is highly anticipated for the difference his elite defense makes in center field.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Closing in on return

  Rotowire Aug 11, 2025

  Clarke (hip) is nearing a return from the 10-day injured list, Jessica Kleinschmidt of Baseball America reports. General manager David Forst didn't specify if Clarke, who landed on the 10-day injured list July 22 with a Grade 2 right adductor strain, would require a rehab assignment. However, Forst noted that Clarke "is close to going out and playing," per Kleinschmidt. A firm timetable for Clarke's return could come into focus over the next few days.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Officially lands on 10-day IL

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2025

  The Athletics placed Clarke on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a Grade 2 right adductor strain. Clarke suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the Guardians. There's no word yet on how long Clarke might be sidelined, but given the nature of the injury, it would be a surprise if it's a minimum absence. Lawrence Butler slid over to center field to cover for Clarke on Monday in Texas and could continue to play the position while the latter is sidelined.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Exits Sunday with hip discomfort

  Rotowire Jul 21, 2025

  Clarke went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 8-2 loss to Cleveland before he was removed from the game in the bottom of the eighth inning due to right hip discomfort, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports. Clarke suffered the injury in the top of the eighth, when he came up gimpy while rounding the bases on Nick Kurtz's run-scoring double. The Athletics haven't provided an official update on Clarke's status ahead of Monday's series opener in Texas, but if he requires a stint on the injured list, the team could bring back JJ Bleday or Colby Thomas back from Triple-A Las Vegas to serve as his primary replacement in center field. Though most of his highlights in the majors since his May 23 promotion have come on the defensive end, Clarke has picked up the pace at the plate of late, slashing .298/.340/.574 with six doubles, two triples and a home run over his past 14 games.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Homers in big win

  Rotowire Jul 5, 2025

  Clarke went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a triple and two total runs scored in Friday's 11-2 win over the Giants. Clarke provided the Athletics' last runs in the blowout win, lifting a seventh-inning homer. That ended an 0-for-11 skid for the outfielder, who is still struggling to find consistency at the plate. He's at a .200/.248/.318 slash line with three homers, eight RBI, 12 runs scored, five stolen bases, two doubles and one triple over 36 major-league games since his call-up in late May. While his offense has been mediocre at best so far, he's been excellent defensively to hold down a starting role in center field.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Resting Friday

  Rotowire Jun 27, 2025

  Clarke is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees. Clarke will get the night off Friday after making four consecutive starts in center field. In his place, JJ Bleday will bat seventh and patrol center field.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: On bench for series finale

  Rotowire Jun 11, 2025

  Clarke is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels. Seth Brown will get the nod in center field in the series finale while Clarke sits for the just the second time in the last 13 games. The 25-year-old has made multiple highlight-reel plays on defense since getting his first call-up to the big leagues May 23, but Clarke is struggling to provide much fantasy utility, despite playing regularly. Aside from chipping in a home run and three stolen bases in his first 17 games, Clarke has slashed just .200/.228/.273 with a 54.4 percent strikeout rate across 57 plate appearances.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Back in action Sunday

  Rotowire Jun 8, 2025

  Clarke (shoulder) is starting in center field and batting ninth Sunday against the Orioles. The 25-year-old was withheld from the starting nine Saturday after he exited Friday's contest due to a bruised left shoulder, but he's ready to play after sitting out just one game. After going 1-for-19 with 15 strikeouts in his first six big-league games, Clarke has found his footing of late with one homer, three steals and a .333/.379/.481 slash line in his past eight contests. However, he still has a 41.4 percent strikeout rate during that latter stretch, so the production may not be sustainable.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Exits with bruised shoulder

  Rotowire Jun 7, 2025

  Clarke was removed from Friday's game against the Orioles with a left shoulder contusion, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Clarke hit the outfield wall hard while making a catch in the fourth inning of Friday's contest, and he was later replaced on defense when the A's took the field in the sixth. His status for the immediate future remains unknown.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Set for promotion

  Rotowire May 22, 2025

  The Athletics are expected to call up Clarke from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Clarke is among the organization's top prospects, and his status has risen quickly within the last year after he made a mechanical adjustment at the plate. While he's played in a hitter-friendly environment in Las Vegas this season, Clarke has struck out at a modest 22 percent clip while walking in 18 percent of his plate appearances and providing a .300/.449/.440 slash line with seven stolen bases. His power may not immediately translate to the majors, but he has elite speed and is an above-average defender in center field. His arrival to the big leagues could result in the struggling JJ Bleday moving into a fourth-outfielder role.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Heads to minor-league camp

  Rotowire Mar 10, 2025

  The Athletics optioned Clarke to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Clarke was one of 13 players the Athletics reassigned or optioned to minor-league camp Monday in the club's latest round of roster cuts. The Athletics added the 24-year-old outfielder to their 40-man roster in November following a 2024 season in which he slashed .269/.339/.445 with 13 home runs and 36 steals over 478 plate appearances at Double-A Midland. Clarke is likely to spend most of the upcoming season at Las Vegas but should have the opportunity to make his MLB debut at some point in 2025 if he shows he can handle pitching in the Pacific Coast League.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Slugs two homers Sunday

  Rotowire Jun 24, 2024

  Clarke went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI on Sunday in Double-A Midland's 4-1 win over Frisco. He also reached base on a hit by pitch. Clarke saw his 2023 campaign come to an early end in late July due to a left shoulder strain, but he returned to full health for the start of the 2024 campaign. Though Clarke's .717 OPS over 215 plate appearances on the season lags far behind his 2023 mark (.877), the 24-year-old outfielder has caught fire at the plate of late. Over his last 11 games, Clarke has gone 17-for-38 (.447 average) with eight extra-base hits and two stolen bases.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Returns from Double-A injured list

  Rotowire May 8, 2023

  Clarke (shoulder) is slashing .382/.488/.941 with four home runs, 13 runs, 11 RBI and one stolen base in 43 plate appearances over his nine games since being activated from Double-A Midland's 7-day injured list April 24. Clarke missed the first two and a half weeks of the minor-league season while recovering from a left shoulder strain, but he hasn't had any trouble tapping into power upon being activated from the IL. For all his success thus far, the 23-year-old outfielder is striking out at a 30.2 percent clip, so expect his production to drop off considerably once his .500 BABIP regresses to a normal level.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Returns from IL

  Rotowire Sep 4, 2022

  Clarke (undisclosed) has gone 1-for-19 with three walks and four stolen bases in six games since being reinstated from High-A Lansing's 7-day injured list Tuesday. Clarke was on the shelf for just five days with the unspecified issue, which may have been COVID-19-related. Since moving up to the High-A level in mid-June, Clarke has slashed .209/.308/.407 with eight home runs and 14 steals in 46 games.

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• Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Heads to IL

  Rotowire Aug 28, 2022

  High-A Lansing placed Clarke on the 7-day injured list Thursday due to an unspecified injury. Lansing's season is set to come to an end Sept. 11, so Clarke's 2022 campaign could well be over if his injury keeps him sidelined beyond the minimum amount of time. Since receiving a promotion from Single-A Stockton in mid-June, Clarke is hitting .226 with eight home runs and 12 stolen bases over 180 plate appearances in the Midwest League.

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