"He’s wearing a gigantic glove" – Fans downplay Denzel Clarke's insane catch for using ‘clown-sized’ mitt

Oakland Athletics rookie centre fielder Denzel Clarke pulled off another jaw-dropping defensive play, but not everyone on social media was impressed. After TNT Sports shared footage of Clarke's wall-climbing catch that robbed the Los Angeles Angels' Nolan Schanuel of a home run, fans flooded the comments section with mixed reactions – many questioning whether the catch was truly spectacular given baseball's use of gloves.

The video, which garnered over 116,000 views, showed Clarke timing his leap perfectly to scale the outfield wall and make a backhand grab with his glove extended well beyond the barrier. While many praised the athletic feat, a vocal portion of viewers weren't having it.

Fans question the difficulty of baseball catches

The criticism was swift and relentless, with many fans comparing baseball to other sports where players don't use gloves. One user sarcastically commented, "Fair play...

now do it without a mitt on. I'd love to see this lot play without mittens for a game and see how they get on."

The cricket vs. baseball debate quickly emerged in the replies, with one fan writing, "Happens every Sunday at my local cricket pitch," while another added, "Yes, but he had support - not a patch on cricket catches."

The criticism wasn't limited to the equipment debate. Some fans questioned baseball's rules altogether, with one user commenting, "Nonsense sport, using the infrastructure to get someone out?" referring to Clarke's use of the wall for support during his spectacular grab.

Clarke continues to build his highlight reel

Despite the social media backlash, Clarke's defensive prowess has been undeniable since his May 23rd debut. The rookie has consistently made spectacular plays, including robbing Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk of a home run in his native Canada and making a full-speed backhand grab against Baltimore's Jorge Mateo in Sacramento.Not all fans were critical of the catch. Several users appreciated the athleticism on display, with one commenting, "The guy is the new human highlight reel," and another simply stating, "Some catch, this."

The debate highlighted the ongoing sports rivalry between baseball and cricket fans, with each side defending their sport's difficulty and skill requirements. While cricket fielders catch without gloves, baseball fans argue that the speed and trajectory of baseballs, combined with the wall-climbing element, make Clarke's catch genuinely impressive.

The verdict remains split

People are still divided into those who find the video amazing and those who dislike it despite its popularity on social media. While some think Clarke is a rising star because of his impressive plays, others believe his catches are average since the equipment and rules help him a lot matter how people talk about him on social media, his presence on the Athletics’ defence has been easily visible. As the rookie keeps putting on great defensive displays, people on social media are likely to question his achievements again.Also Read : Watch: Denzel Clarke's incredible wall grab best home run steal ever in MLB historyEven with all the suggestions from fans that he play offence, Clarke will need to focus on fielding as the Athletics try to secure a strong finish in the season.