The Tigers seized on Indiana prep outfielder and left-handed slasher, Max Clark, whose skills and speed proved too much for Detroit to resist with the third-overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Clark is a rare talent — a legitimate five-tool phenom, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, who can hit for average and for power, who has breathtaking speed, and who flaunts a glove and arm that could make him a MLB whiz, if projections are on-target.
The Tigers were staring at an $8.3 million limit at three-overall, and a need to stay within MLB’s strict prescriptions when they required ample cash to offer their subsequent picks Sunday — at 37 and 45, overall.
Clark’s timeline to Detroit is likely to be a longer than would have been the case with LSU star outfielder Crews, who went to the Nationals at No. 2, but the Tigers will be patient with a talent who could be transformative.
“We’re in the top class in the state of Indiana, although we’re toward the bottom of school enrollment,” Mark Feyerabend, Franklin’s head coach said during an April conversation with The Detroit News. “So, we’re playing games against schools with 1,500 or 2,000 more students than us. Plus, our non-conference schedule is as tough as we can get it, so the arms he’s facing are the best we can schedule.
“He puts the bat on the ball. He’s a hard out. And he just really doesn’t strike out.”
Baseball America’s scouting report on Clark included these testimonials:
“Clark has long been considered one of the best pure hitters in the 2023 class, thanks to a smooth, balanced swing that’s quick, compact and through the hitting zone with a good bat-path.
“On top of a clean, mechanical swing, Clark has advanced strike-zone discipline and hand-eye coordination, with an ability to manipulate his swing based on the situation and location of the pitch.
“He rarely swings and misses, and over a 765-pitch sample with Synergy from 2020-2022, Clark missed at just a 13% rate. In general, Clark has a line-drive, hit-first approach at the plate, but he lowered his handset this spring in an attempt to drive the ball for more power, and could grows into solid or better power in the future, thanks to a well-proportioned and muscular, 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame.
“He has routinely turned in 70-grade run times (80 is maximum on scouting scorecards), both in workout environments and in games, with excellent quickness out of the box and the ability to turn infield ground-balls into singles and liners to the gap into doubles.
“His speed plays well on the bases and in center field, where he should be a plus-defender with standout athleticism and solid defensive instincts. He has one of the best throwing arms in the prep class, a 70-grade tool that has been into the mid-90s on the mound.”
It was suspected ahead of Sunday evening that the Tigers would be in line for a prep, left-side infielder with either the 37th or 45th picks.
Keeping such draft choices from opting for college scholarships and commitments, however, would be rest on the Tigers having sufficient cash to induce such players into turning pro.
Rounds 3-10 of the draft will resume Monday, with rounds 11-20 set for Tuesday.
This is a developing story. Check back here for more updates.