A’s roster moves: Clarke to IL, Thomas recalled

TL;DR

The A's placed center fielder Denzel Clarke on the IL due to a right foot bone bruise, recalling Colby Thomas to take his place. Clarke's injury may provide him a chance to reset after a tough start to the season.

Key points

Denzel Clarke placed on IL with a right foot bone bruise
Colby Thomas recalled to replace Clarke on the roster
Clarke has struggled offensively this season

Mentioned in this story

Sutter Health Park

Denzel ClarkeColby ThomasAthleticsChicago White Sox

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: Denzel Clarke #1 of the Athletics can not catch a ball hit by Andrew Benintendi #23 of the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images The A’s announced on Wednesday afternoon mere hours before their series finale against the Mariners that they were placing center fielder Denzel Clarke on the IL with a right foot bone bruise, with fellow outfielder Colby Thomas taking his spot: It’s a disappointing development for Clarke, who has gotten off to a brutal start at the plate to start the season. He’s continued to display his awesome skills as a center fielder but he’s looked lost in the batter’s box all season. This could end up being a good thing for Clarke. The injury seems mild and it could give him to get a sort of reset to his season. The A’s don’t need him to hit all that much to be a net positive for them but he can’t be an absolute black hole in the lineup. How the A’s handle his absence will be fascinating to watch. Lawrence Butler seems like the most likely option to pick up the bulk of playing time in center field, but the team has also been using Zack Gelof up the middle a couple times this year and he could get more playing time there with Clarke’s absence. Or the team could turn to Colby Thomas, who is taking Clarke’s spot on the active roster. He’s gotten off to a solid start in Triple-A with the Aviators as he’s hitting .305 with five home runs. Either way the A’s go, they’ll likely be getting more offense out of the position than they have up to this point.

Q&A

What injury did Denzel Clarke sustain that led to his placement on the IL?

Denzel Clarke was placed on the IL due to a right foot bone bruise.

Who is replacing Denzel Clarke on the A's roster?

Colby Thomas has been recalled to take Denzel Clarke's spot on the active roster.

How has Denzel Clarke performed before his injury this season?

Denzel Clarke has struggled at the plate, displaying poor hitting performance despite his strong defensive skills.

A’s roster moves: Clarke to IL, Thomas recalled

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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