18-year-old Max Clark entered the MLB Draft with "genuinely no idea" where he would land. What he did know was that he'd formed a tight bond with the Tigers and their scouting department, cinched last month by a workout at Comerica Park, where he said he "launched a few balls and put on a good show." Down the line, the show will go on. When Clark was available with the third overall pick Sunday night, the Tigers didn't think twice about calling his name.
"We think Max is an elite talent," said front office chief Scott Harris. "He was the best player on our board at that pick and we were thrilled that he got to our pick. We think Max is a five-tool player. I think that label gets thrown around way too much in our industry. We think Max has all five."
Or in the words of scouting director Mark Conner, "He can impact the game on all sides of the ball." Conner pointed to Clark's obvious hitting ability and "emerging power," his range and arm in the outfield and his all-around speed.
"And as you get to know him, you’re going to understand his personality and his drive and his commitment to the game," said Conner. "He’s just an exciting player to add to the organization."
A dynamic outfielder with a dynamite bat, Clark was the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year last season at Indiana's Franklin Community High. He was also the Gatorade Indiana Baseball Player of the Year in each of his three high school seasons, over which time he drew 113 walks and struck out a total of 16 times. For an organization that wants to control the strike zone, that's a pretty good start. Helps that Clark also hit .646 as a junior.
"The biggest thing I did for my game over the last few years was really and truly learn how to hit, and not just swing," Clark said. "It was a definitely an interesting climb, but three years later the hit tool is there, and that’s what I made my money off of."
That includes a $7.7 million signing bonus from the Tigers, which is actually below slot value for the No. 3 pick. Clark is a long way from the majors, but he and his new organization are already of the same mind. He said that when he visited with Harris and his team of evaluators in Detroit, his philosophies and theirs aligned "pretty much identically." He is now the most important pupil in the Tigers' revamped player development system.
"To hear what they think is best for the organization align with what you want to do is fantastic, because it immediately builds that bond that can help win World Series, division championships, whatever it may be," said Clark. "Just win games."
Clark speaks with charisma and confidence. He is earnestly and infectiously positive. He said he's "always tried to mirror myself after" Bryce Harper, who "plays hard every day and plays with a lot of flair." His love for the game and his deep well of talent brings to mind Riley Greene, who, if all goes according to plan, will eventually team up with Clark in Detroit's outfield. Center belongs to Greene at the moment, but it's now marked for Clark.
"It’s really hard to find a potential impact center fielder who can change the game on both sides of the ball," said Harris. "We think Max can do that. One thing that Tigers fans are going to absolutely love about Max is how fast he plays and how hard he plays. This is a high school player that is absolutely obsessed with getting better in every facet of his game."
Clark, listed at 6'1, 190 pounds, calls himself a gap-to-gap hitter, which will serve him well in Comerica Park: "I think it’s going to be a big plus for me to play there and just let the speed take over with doubles and triples," he said. (He smiled and said he also learned during batting practice last month that "the ball flies out of right field, so that's a good sign for sure.") On defense, it will be doubles and triples that Clark helps prevent.
Clark won't be in Detroit for a few more years. Greene was drafted fifth overall out of high school in 2019 -- after being named Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in Florida -- and didn't arrive in the bigs until 2022. But when he gets here, Clark and Greene could make highlight reels together. Greene is the best reason to feel good about the Tigers' future, and one of the only reasons to watch them in the present. His presence has given the team a jolt. Clark has the tools to eventually provide another, for many years to come.
"For me, I want to be the guy who can change a clubhouse," he said. "Be the guy that’s playing 110 percent every day, having an absolute blast doing it and encouraging others to play as hard as they can at the same time. It’s baseball, obviously you’re here to win, but you can do that having fun."
For the Tigers, anything would beat all this losing.
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