If you're doubting Max Clark, he's using it as fuel. Drafted third overall by the Tigers last summer, the 19-year-old is motivated by the critics who are already calling him a bust -- and he's got the cleats to prove it.
In his first full season in the Tigers organization, Clark is rocking a pair of custom Adidas studs with clashing colors and messages. The left cleat is red and quotes real social media posts that claim Clark was the wrong pick for the Tigers and is destined to be a bust. (Did we mention that he's 19 and was drafted last summer?) The right one is blue and features words of praise for one of the top prospects in baseball.
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"It's kind of like when you're looking at your shoulder when you're struggling, there's always that little devil on your shoulder telling you, 'You're not good enough, blah, blah, blah, you're not made for this, you don't belong here,' things like that," Clark told MLB.com.
"Then on the flip side, there's the angel that's guiding you to grind and figure it out and giving you the confidence to know that you belong here. It's been something I've been not only thinking about day to day but really preaching to myself, how much I do belong here. And that's obviously made a huge increase in my play over the last week."
Indeed, after going 1-for-16 in his first four games this season with the Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, Clark is finding his groove. He has four hits, three RBI and two stolen bases over his last four games. He's the No. 13 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline -- which says Clark "has the five-tool potential on which dreams are built."
A stylish player with a vast collection of sneakers and cleats, Clark has drawn inspiration for his custom footwear from big-leaguers like Tigers shortstop Javier Báez and Padres stars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Clark wore a Detroit-themed pair of custom cleats in spring training this year that featured images of Comerica Park, a Corvette and the Motor City skyline.
He's still a long way from playing in Detroit, but clearly Clark has the city on his mind. Doubt him at your own risk.
