It has been the yr of the house run theft, the yr of spectacular middle subject protection … and possibly now, the yr of Denzel Clarke.
Wait, who’s Denzel Clarke? The 24-year-old Canadian by the use of Cal State Northridge has performed simply 16 video games within the majors for the Athletics however has already made two legendary catches, together with one on Monday that, with its cinematic brilliance, can be lengthy remembered alongside a few of the greatest robberies of all time.
However we have now many candidates for catch of the yr on this yr of protection. This is a rundown of the highest 12 catches to this point in 2025 — and, belief us, it was not simple to trim the checklist (and we undoubtedly missed another robust candidates). Oh, and sorry infielders, we’re sticking to solely outfielders for this checklist.
1. Denzel Clarke, Athletics (June 9)
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Catch of the yr! Denzel Clarke scales wall for absurd HR theft
Denzel Clarke defies gravity to make a sensational dwelling run theft for the Athletics vs. the Angels.
As A’s announcer Dallas Braden exclaimed, “Oh my god!”
There’s a picture that captures the catch in its full glory, with Clarke a number of ft off the bottom, his again to dwelling plate, his proper hand balancing his physique on high of the wall, his gloved left hand reaching approach above and past the highest of the fence. The stretch and attain put this catch into official ridiculous territory.
“That play was fairly phenomenal,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned after the sport. “I requested our bench coach Darren Bush, ‘If he had fallen over the fence, how would they’ve dominated that?’ That is about as far over a fence you will get with out going over and making a play. We speak about his vary. The bundle is intuition, response and pace. He is acquired all of it.”
How spectacular has Clarke been in middle subject 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 saved. However keep in mind: He has performed solely 16 video games. In simply a few weeks within the majors, Clarke has already established himself as a doubtlessly historic defensive middle fielder.
He has been overmatched on the plate — he has 29 strikeouts and only one stroll — so it stays to be seen whether or not Clarke will hit sufficient to stay a daily, however his protection is so good that it may not matter.
2. Denzel Clarke, Athletics (June 6)
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Denzel Clarke crashes into wall for unbelievable seize
A’s middle fielder Denzel Clarke collides with the wall at full pace to make a spectacular catch.
We give attention to dwelling run robberies, however Clarke sacrificed his physique to make this play.
“I at all times have a gauge of the place the wall is at, how briskly I am going and what I’ll must do,” Clarke mentioned after the 5-4 win over the Orioles. “I do know we have now an enormous warning monitor right here, in order I am approaching the wall, I am like, ‘I’ve one further step right here. I can both go take it or play this off the wall.’ I made a decision to go make the play. I put my physique on the road, and I am blissful it held up for the win at present.”
Pitcher J.P. Sears watched in amazement.
“Simply the perfect catch anyone has ever made after I’m pitching,” Sears mentioned. “It is simply unreal. Undoubtedly top-of-the-line performs, possibly the perfect play I’ve ever seen in individual.”
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Daulton Varsho stumbles and falls earlier than unimaginable backhand catch
Daulton Varsho does acrobatics and falls over earlier than finishing an unimaginable catch for the Blue Jays vs. the Crimson Sox.
Varsho’s catch prompted comparisons to a few of the greatest catches of all time. Now it may not even be the perfect catch of the season. The argument in opposition to it’s he made an inconceivable play solely by falling down within the first place. Nonetheless, it was a one-of-a-kind catch.
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Mets placed on a defensive masterclass within the 4th inning
Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor placed on a jaw-dropping defensive show on all three outs for the Mets.
Taylor’s catch acquired misplaced because it occurred the identical evening as Varsho’s catch, nevertheless it is perhaps essentially the most spectacular diving catch to this point, a full-speed dash into deep left-center.
“A factor of magnificence,” exclaimed Mets announcer Gary Cohen, whereas one Mets fan wrote: “Tyrone Taylor simply turned a endlessly Met.”
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Michael Harris II makes unbelievable snag in middle
Michael Harris II tracks the ball for a great distance, lastly making a Willie Mays-style over-the-shoulder catch for the out.
Harris is everywhere in the highlights, however this one evokes recollections of the well-known Jim Edmonds catch.
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Dane Myers lays out for run-saving seize for Marlins
Marlins middle fielder Dane Myers makes a clutch catch within the outfield to stop the San Francisco Giants from scoring within the seventh inning.
Myers has made a number of highlight-reel catches, however this one was most likely the perfect as he hangs on 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) Could 4, 2025
One other spectacular younger middle fielder, Scott robbed Juan Soto of a house run with this leaping seize.
JACKSON CHOURIO BRINGS IT BACK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g1VuHei4wt
— MLB (@MLB) Could 18, 2025
The Brewers’ younger outfielder is among the budding stars of the game. Count on to see many extra performs like this one, when he turned a possible game-tying dwelling run from Minnesota’s Royce Lewis into an out.
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Crimson Sox outfielders group up for unbelievable HR theft
Wilyer Abreu goes as much as rob the house run, however the ball bounces off his glove into Ceddanne Rafaela’s glove for one of many wildest catches you will ever see.
Carpenter acquired robbed right here when Abreu saved a house run, tag-teaming with Rafaela for the maybe never-before-seen 9-8 putout.
Pete Crow-Armstrong lays out for the SPECTACULAR catch 🤩 pic.twitter.com/RNtyd6QASV
— MLB (@MLB) Could 31, 2025
We won’t have a listing of the perfect catches of 2025 with out together with Crow-Armstrong. This one had only a 10% catch likelihood and he made it look simple. Crow-Armstrong already seems like a lock for his first Gold Glove, rating within the one hundredth percentile in outs above common and simply behind J-Rod and Rafaela in DRS.
11. Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Crimson Sox (Could 8)
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Ceddanne Rafaela crashes into the wall for jaw-dropping seize
Ceddanne Rafaela denies Rangers as he lays out in opposition to the wall to make a sensational snag.
What number of nice younger middle fielders do we have now now? Rafaela’s catch might have occurred solely at Fenway Park, as he raced deep into the triangle and crashed into the wall.
12. Derek Hill, Miami Marlins (April 8)
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Derek Hill goes full extension for unimaginable catch on warning monitor
Derek Hill lays out at full stretch to make an excellent diving catch to go away three Mets stranded and finish the sixth inning for the Marlins.
Tyrone Taylor was on the opposite finish of this play from Hill, who needed to battle a 19-mph wind to make this catch.
Honorable mentions
Ian Happ (April 5): Happ is a three-time Gold Glove winner, and he confirmed why.
Jacob Melton (June 6): Astros rookie Melton lately acquired referred to as up and confirmed off his vary with this play.
Riley Greene (June 2): Greene with an identical play to Melton’s, solely within the left-field nook.
