Toronto native Denzel Clarke is having quite a homecoming series.
Playing in Toronto for the first time as a major leaguer, the Athletics outfielder put on a show in Friday’s game.
The 25-year-old Clarke was one of the stars of the game, turning Alejandro Kirk’s near-homer into a 407-foot out, nearly robbing Nathan Lukes of an extra-base hit in the sixth and collecting the first run batted in and multi-hit game of an MLB career that started just last week.
However, he wasn’t done there.
Early in Saturday’s game, just his eighth in the majors, Clarke belted his first career major league home run deep to left field off Blue Jays starter Braydon Fisher.
His home run on Saturday (May 31, 2025) came 25 years and one month from the day he was born (May 1, 2000) in Toronto.
Where the long ball ended up also has some significance to Clarke. The outfielder’s home run landed near the spot he told Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy he remembers sitting when he watched former Blue Jay Aaron Hill hit a walk-off home run.
Clarke struggled at the plate to start his MLB career, but if his recent form against the Blue Jays is any indication, he appears to be finding his stride.