The Tigers are calling up top talent Max Clarkreports Emily Waldon of Baseball America and Just Baseball Media. Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, is currently ranked No. 16 in the game on BA’s recently updated Top 100 list. He is not on the 40-man roster and will have to have his contract optioned. Detroit will need to make a corresponding 40-man move to accommodate the 21-year-old before the promotion becomes official.
Clark had a great season overall, hitting .276/.368/.434 with 10 homers and 21 steals in 413 plate appearances, but he’s caught absolute fire over the past six weeks. In 32 games dating back to mid-June, he exploded for a .328/.427/.523 batting line (155 wRC+). His massive 13.3% walk rate in that span matches his minuscule 13.3% strikeout rate, and he’s connected on six of his top 10 long balls of the season in this category. That production comes despite Clark being one of the youngest players in the Triple-A International League. He won’t turn 22 until December.
Left-arm spinner Clark has hit since he was drafted. Despite constantly facing older and more experienced competition at all levels, he has posted better-than-average offensive numbers in each season of his professional career.
Scouting reports tout Clark as a combination runner with a combination tool and at least average power. His wheels give him plenty of range up the middle, but scouts feel he has the type of combination throwing arm that could play well in right field. BA’s report on him likens Clark’s hitting ability and plate behavior to that of other Tigers wunderkinds. Kevin McGonigle. They note that Clark has great exit velocity but doesn’t reach his full raw power in games due to a preference for downfielders, especially against lefties. That will be a point of focus for the Tigers as they continue Clark’s development and try to get him to reach his All-Star ceiling in the majors. As far as 21-year-old players go, however, he’s one of the most polished and big-league-ready players you’ll come across this year.
There is no chance of Clark getting a full season of major league service this year. We’re too far into the calendar for him to be able to shine for AL Rookie of the Year (currently led by the aforementioned McGonigle), and there are only 58 days of regular season play left in the program, so he can’t accumulate a full year. The timing of the promotion means that Detroit will not receive any type of draft-related compensation from MLB’s promotional titles and that Clark will largely skip the Super Two selection. Of course, if this proves to be a short stay in the majors (eg as a replacement for the injured list), it is possible that Clark will retain his rookie eligibility next season, but one can imagine that with this personal prospect, the Tigers are hoping that his first call-up will be the only one needed.
More to come.
