Best MLB catches of 2025 rankings: Denzel Clarke, Chourio, more - ESPN

It has been the year of the home run robbery, the year of spectacular center field defense… and maybe now, the year of Denzel Clarke.

Wait, who's Denzel Clarke? The 24-year-old Canadian by way of Cal State Northridge has played just 16 games in the majors for the Athletics but has already made two legendary catches, including one on Monday that, with its cinematic brilliance, will be long remembered alongside some of the best robberies of all time.

But we have many candidates for catch of the year in this year of defense. Here's a rundown of the top 12 catches so far in 2025 — and, trust us, it was not easy to trim the list (and we undoubtedly missed some other strong candidates). Oh, and sorry infielders, we're sticking to only outfielders for this list.

Denzel Clarke defies gravity to make a sensational home run robbery for the Athletics vs. the Angels.

As A's announcer Dallas Braden exclaimed, «Oh my god!»

There is a photo that captures the catch in its full glory, with Clarke several feet off the ground, his back to home plate, his right hand balancing his body on top of the wall, his gloved left hand reaching way above and beyond the top of the fence. The stretch and reach put this catch into official ridiculous territory.

«That play was pretty phenomenal,» A's manager Mark Kotsay said after the game. «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 spectacular has Clarke been in center field for the A's? He ranks tied for fourth among center fielders in Statcast's fielding run value and