The Athletics’ injury pileup has opened the door for another look at Denzel Clarke, and that could end up being exactly what the lineup needs.
Tyler Soderstrom going on the 10-day injured list with hip impingement forced another shuffle, with Darell Hernaiz recalled to give the club an extra infielder. That move also created more room for Zack Gelof to keep roaming around the diamond, including time in the outfield while the A’s wait on Clarke’s return, which is expected in the next week or so.
Gelof has handled multiple spots for Oakland this season and done well with the glove, but his limited outfield experience leaves the A’s with a clear preference: get Clarke back and let the defensive specialist do what he does best.
That matters because this roster could use more speed in a hurry. Outside of Henry Bolte, the A’s don’t exactly look built to terrorize pitchers on the bases, and Shea Langeliers is out for the remainder of the 2026 season. Clarke would add another quick player to the mix, giving the team a different kind of threat in a lineup that could use one.
The defensive value is obvious. Clarke has already shown he can cover ground in center field in a way that changes games, and the A’s could use that kind of presence again. His bat, though, remains the question.
Last season, Clarke hit .230, a number that is manageable when the glove is doing that much damage. This year, he’s at .170 in 53 at-bats, and his career strikeout total sits at 85 in 201 at-bats. That’s the part of his game that has kept him from locking down a bigger role.
Bolte has done a strong job in center field while Clarke has been out, even with some defensive mistakes mixed in. The rookie has shown enough upside both in the field and at the plate to make this a real conversation. If Soderstrom’s injury pushes the A’s to adjust again, Bolte could slide to left, Clarke could go back to center, and Lawrence Butler would stay put in right.
If Clarke’s bat starts to come around, the A’s could be looking at a real competition next season between him and Bolte once everyone is healthy. For now, there may be room for both of them in the outfield.
And with this lineup already heavy on left-handed bats, Clarke’s right-handed swing could give the A’s another look, especially if he can start producing more consistently.
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