MLB catch of the yr?! Where Denzel Clarke’s HR theft ranks

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David SchoenfieldJun 10, 2025, 02:30 PM ET
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- Covers MLB for ESPN.com
- Former deputy editor of Page 2
- Been with ESPN.com since 1995

It has been the yr of the house run theft, the yr of impressive middle discipline protection … and possibly now, the yr of Denzel Clarke.

Wait, who is Denzel Clarke? The 24-year-old Canadian by means of Cal State Northridge has performed simply 16 video games within the majors for the Athletics however has already made two mythical catches, together with one on Monday that, with its cinematic brilliance, might be lengthy remembered along one of the easiest robberies of all time.

But we’ve many applicants for catch of the yr on this yr of protection. Here’s a rundown of the highest 12 catches up to now in 2025 — and, consider us, it used to be no longer simple to trim the checklist (and we definitely overlooked every other robust applicants). Oh, and sorry infielders, we are sticking to simply outfielders for this checklist.

1. Denzel Clarke, Athletics (June 9)

Catch of the yr! Denzel Clarke scales wall for absurd HR theft

Denzel Clarke defies gravity to make a sensational house run theft for the Athletics vs. the Angels.

As A’s announcer Dallas Braden exclaimed, “Oh my god!”

There is a photograph that captures the catch in its complete glory, with Clarke a number of toes off the bottom, his again to house plate, his proper hand balancing his frame on best of the wall, his gloved left hand attaining method above and past the highest of the fence. The stretch and achieve put this catch into reliable ridiculous territory.

“That play was pretty phenomenal,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay stated after the sport. “I asked our bench coach Darren Bush, ‘If he had fallen over the fence, how would they have ruled that?’ That’s about as far over a fence you can get without going over and making a play. We talk about his range. The package is instinct, reaction and speed. He’s got it all.”

How impressive has Clarke been in middle discipline for the A’s? He ranks tied for fourth amongst middle fielders in Statcast’s fielding run worth and in addition tied for fourth amongst middle fielders in defensive runs stored. But take into accout: He has performed most effective 16 video games. In simply a few weeks within the majors, Clarke has already established himself as a probably historical defensive middle fielder.

He has been overmatched on the plate — he has 29 strikeouts and only one stroll — so it is still viewed whether or not Clarke will hit sufficient to stay a standard, however his protection is so excellent that it could no longer topic.

2. Denzel Clarke, Athletics (June 6)

Denzel Clarke crashes into wall for fantastic snatch

A’s middle fielder Denzel Clarke collides with the wall at complete velocity to make a impressive catch.

We center of attention on house run robberies, however Clarke sacrificed his frame to make this play.

“I always have a gauge of where the wall is at, how fast I’m going and what I’m going to need to do,” Clarke stated after the 5-4 win over the Orioles. “I know we have a big warning track here, so as I’m approaching the wall, I’m like, ‘I have one extra step here. I can either go take it or play this off the wall.’ I decided to go make the play. I put my body on the line, and I’m happy it held up for the win today.”

Pitcher J.P. Sears watched in amazement.

“Easily the best catch anybody has ever made when I’m pitching,” Sears stated. “It’s just unreal. Definitely one of the best plays, maybe the best play I’ve ever seen in person.”

Daulton Varsho stumbles and falls earlier than improbable backhand catch

Daulton Varsho does acrobatics and falls over earlier than finishing an out of this world catch for the Blue Jays vs. the Red Sox.

Varsho’s catch triggered comparisons to one of the easiest catches of all time. Now it could no longer also be the most efficient catch of the season. The argument towards it’s he made an not possible play most effective through falling down within the first position. Still, it used to be a one-of-a-kind catch.

Mets placed on a defensive masterclass within the 4th inning

Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor placed on a jaw-dropping defensive show on all 3 outs for the Mets.

Taylor’s catch were given misplaced because it came about the similar night time as Varsho’s catch, however it could be probably the most spectacular diving catch up to now, a full-speed dash into deep left-center.

“A thing of beauty,” exclaimed Mets announcer Gary Cohen, whilst one Mets fan wrote: “Tyrone Taylor just became a forever Met.”

Michael Harris II makes fantastic snag in middle

Michael Harris II tracks the ball for a ways, in the end creating a Willie Mays-style over-the-shoulder catch for the out.

Harris is far and wide the highlights, however this one inspires recollections of the well-known Jim Edmonds catch.

Dane Myers lays out for run-saving snatch for Marlins

Marlins middle fielder Dane Myers makes a take hold of catch within the outfield to forestall the San Francisco Giants from scoring within the 7th inning.

Myers has made a number of highlight-reel catches, however this one used to be almost definitely the most efficient as he hangs directly to the ball after crashing into the wall.

VICTOR SCOTT II WITH ONE OF THE BEST CATCHES EVER! pic.twitter.com/jgX1R96qgy

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 4, 2025

Another impressive younger middle fielder, Scott robbed Juan Soto of a house run with this jumping snatch.

JACKSON CHOURIO BRINGS IT BACK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g1VuHei4wt

— MLB (@MLB) May 18, 2025

The Brewers’ younger outfielder is among the budding stars of the game. Expect to peer many extra performs like this one, when he grew to become a possible game-tying house run from Minnesota’s Royce Lewis into an out.

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Red Sox outfielders group up for fantastic HR theft

Wilyer Abreu is going as much as rob the house run, however the ball bounces off his glove into Ceddanne Rafaela’s glove for one of the vital wildest catches you’ll be able to ever see.

Carpenter were given robbed right here when Abreu stored a house run, tag-teaming with Rafaela for the in all probability never-before-seen 9-8 putout.

Pete Crow-Armstrong lays out for the SPECTACULAR catch 🤩 pic.twitter.com/RNtyd6QASV

— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025

We cannot have an inventory of the most efficient catches of 2025 with out together with Crow-Armstrong. This one had only a 10% catch chance and he made it glance simple. Crow-Armstrong already looks like a lock for his first Gold Glove, rating within the 100th percentile in outs above moderate and simply in the back of J-Rod and Rafaela in DRS.

11. Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox (May 8)

Ceddanne Rafaela crashes into the wall for jaw-dropping snatch

Ceddanne Rafaela denies Rangers as he lays out towards the wall to make a sensational snag.

How many nice younger middle fielders do we’ve now? Rafaela’s catch may have came about most effective at Fenway Park, as he raced deep into the triangle and crashed into the wall.