Lakeland, Fla. — That three-run, walk-off bomb he hit Tuesday against Toronto was a nice intro to the home-run column in Max Clark’s professional baseball life.
It was a 417-footer, with an exit velocity of 105 mph, and as it soared beyond the right-center field fence on the back-quadrant field at TigerTown, the Florida Complex League Tigers suddenly had a 5-4 victory.
Ah, but when extra-base hits have been your trademark during three FCL games, a home run simply puts a flourish on that triple and three doubles he also has lashed in his first games as a Detroit Tigers prospect following last month’s anointing as the Tigers’ first-round pick and third-overall choice in the 2023 MLB Draft.
“I’ve seen everything that’s been talked about,” said Mike Alvarez, the 65-year-old FCL Tigers manager, summing up Clark’s skill-set, which was considered by scouts nationwide to be an overall package of offense and defense.
Clark is 6-for-14 in his FCL baptism: a first-game triple off the left-center field fence; a second-game, low-liner Clark’s legs helped turn into a double; a double against the right-field wall at Tampa to go with an earlier single; and Tuesday’s home run, paired with a double that also was ripped to right-center.
He has one walk — in a lone at-bat during a lightning-shortened game last week against Toronto.
It should be noted: Clark won’t turn 19 until Dec. 21.
Cooling off in the clubhouse following a workout Wednesday, when temps pushed 100 degrees, Clark talked about these first professional games, specifically the difference in pitching from his past spring when he was seeing a steady stream of Indiana prep arms that weren’t faring terribly well against a left-handed hitter, 6-foot 1 and now 200 pounds.
“It’s night and day,” said Clark, even if his early numbers belie any serious issues. “These guys are obviously more advanced.
“They come out firing. But the off-speed is the true difference. In high school, sure, there were a couple of guys 90, maybe 93 at the top.
“These dudes are 95 to 100, with four pitches. So, it’s a complete difference.”
The Tigers, and all the FCL, are being careful about scheduling — by design. Two consecutive games and no more. This was the arrangement even before dangerous heat began searing all of the United States, with few places as prone to oven-grade temps as Polk County and its inland tracts.
“That’s the big thing — being hydrated,” said Clark, who 10 weeks ago was wrapping up classes at Franklin Community High, about 25 miles south of Indianapolis.
“You find that a day, or even two days before a game, what you eat and drink is going to have an impact. The preparation a day and two before is huge.”
Not that a day without games means a day minus work.
On the contrary. Alvarez and the development staff use non-game mornings and afternoons as drill-time: baserunning, with coach Arnie Beyeler in charge. Defense, situations, the gamut of professional baseball’s maze of challenges.
Still, for an offensive player like Clark — even if his center-field talents and arm are big reasons behind the Tigers taking him at No. 3 — it’s hitting and how he handles this first taste of professional pitching talent that’s a primary test.
“That first week, I definitely learned how to deal with a professional slider and a professional change-up, ‘cause they’re way harder than anything I’ve seen,” Clark said.
“But you get used to it. After two weeks, 95 (mph) looks like 90, and 100 looks like 95.
“So, you find you’re getting more comfortable with the velo. It’s learning how to hit the other pitches, as well.
“But it’s been a blast — amazing.”
Clark will be back at it, and in the lineup, Thursday at Clearwater when the Tigers take on the Phillies’ rookies.
Temperatures, no surprise, are forecasted to stretch well into the 90s.
The hydration mission continues.
Lynn Henning is a freelance writer and retired Detroit News sports reporter.