By: Nick Ashbourne

Canadian Baseball Network

Denzel Clarke has the kind of athleticism likely to impress at Tournament 12, but perhaps his best tool lies squarely between his ears.

While the 16-year-old Toronto Mets outfielder makes good contact, runs down balls in the gaps and steals bases, the work he puts in off the field is what stands out to his team.

“Denzel is a cage rat,” says Chris Kemlo the Mets 18U head coach. “He’s always in the building trying to make himself better.”

The drive to improve is essential for Clarke, who admits that as recently as last year he wasn’t nearly the ballplayer he is today.

“I put a lot of work in over the winter,” he says. “I wasn’t really that good of a player [prior to 2016], but I worked hard and I feel like I really improved this season.”

Along with his remarkable work ethic comes a strong appreciation for those who’ve helped him develop his game.

“At the end of the year Denzel wrote an individual email to all of his coaches thanking them for something they helped him with over the course of the season,” says Kemlo. “You don’t see too many kids do that.”

Clarke felt it was important to reach out to the Mets’ coaching staff because of the sacrifices they made to help him take the next step as a player.

“They put in all this time and effort and take time out of their own lives to help us improve and get better and I’m really grateful for their help,” he says.

Clarke’s first Tournament 12 appearance represents a reward for all the hard work he and his coaches put in over the course of the season. Alongside friends and Mets teammates Adam Parker and Thomas Murphy, he will be suiting up for the Futures Navy squad.

 “It’s going to be pretty exciting doing this for the first time,” he says. “I’ve heard a lot about it and it should be a lot of fun with really good competition.”

His plan for the event is simple.

“I just have to stay relaxed, have fun and trust in my talent and the abilities that I have.”

Clarke expects that his skills as a fielder are what will stand out at the tournament as he uses his speed to cover a lot of ground in centre.

“I take pride in my defence, I try not to let any balls by me or let any balls drop the best that I can,” he says. “I think that’s probably the strongest part of my game right now.”

Coach Kemlo concurs.

“He’s able to run balls down in the gap that other guys aren’t able to get to,” he says. “You see a ball that you think is an automatic double and he finds a way to track it down.”

Defence may be his calling card, but he could also open some eyes with his bat. Clarke isn’t a slugger just yet, but Kemlo sees him as the kind of hitter who can frustrate opposing pitchers.

“He handles the bat well and makes a lot of contact,” he says. “He’s a tough at-bat.”

Kemlo feels he the mental side of his game is strong enough that it should allow him to play up to the tough competition at Tournament 12.

“He’s a very intelligent kid on the baseball field,” he says. “He’s already adapted very quickly to a higher level of the game.”

Observing Clarke, Kemlo sees a reliable young man with his head screwed on right. That can be hard to find in a 16-year-old, and is essential in a ballplayer.

“Denzel is calm, cool and collected and his work ethic is outstanding.”

The next step in Clarke’s development will be mainly physical. The 16-year-old is currently listed at six feet and 155 pounds and certainly has some room to grow.

“For Denzel it’s about getting stronger and maturing physically,” Kemlo says.

Over the next few years, the growth Clarke needs to take the next step will almost certainly come and he can build on the foundation he’s laid down. A profound respect for the game, a burning desire to improve and more than his fair share of athleticism seems like a pretty good starting point.