Top prospect Max Clark is reportedly being called up by the Detroit Tigers, according to Baseball America’s Emily Waldon.
The 21-year-old Clark, MLB’s 13th-ranked prospect, will join the team as it begins a nine-game road trip against the Athletics on Friday.
The third overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft, Clark has enjoyed a productive summer with Triple-A Toledo. Through 90 games, he has 11 home runs, 42 RBI, 50 walks, and 21 stolen bases while slashing .338/.466/.620. After hitting just two home runs in the opening two months of the season, Clark has had a power surge since June, mashing nine bombs, including five in July.
Clark’s play this season will bring expectations that he can complement AL Rookie of the Year candidate Kevin McGonigle, who was drafted 34 picks after Clark in 2023, in the Tigers’ lineup.
Two young stars with different personalities, Clark sees the duo in the same light as a pair of impactful Philadelphia Phillies.
“Obviously, we express it in different ways,” Clark said during spring training. “He’s the Chase Utley, and I’m the Bryce Harper. That’s what everybody is kind of drawn to. Obviously, we’re not those players yet, but that’s who we look up to.”
The Tigers are in need of an outfielder with Matt Vierling heading to the injured list after suffering a groin injury on Wednesday. There could be other moves coming as Monday’s MLB trade deadline approaches and the future of back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal remains murky.
The Tigers are 51-58 and sit in fourth place in the AL Central. They remain 4 1/2 games out of one of the AL wild cards with 53 games to play.
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