Max
Clark

OF Max Clark (Franklin HS, IN) tied with SS Cal Fisher (Deerfield HS, WI) for the most hits in the event with seven, thanks in large part to his 5-for-5 day that included a triple. That ball was scorched and nearly took the shortstop’s head off, as his line of sight was briefly blocked by a runner. That was by far Clark’s loudest hit and he added a single to center field that was barreled. The Vanderbilt recruit seemed to be focused on getting to his front foot early, causing him to leak out a bit and hit groundballs, but his plus to plus-plus speed puts a ton of pressure on the defense and only struck out once in 16 plate appearances.

Max is one of those players you don’t want to take your eye off, because you may miss something special. The 6-foot, 190 pounder plays the game with incredible intensity, poise, and maturity. Makes the game look easy. Clark has plus bat speed coupled with very impressive zone awareness at the dish. His quick hips and elite foot speed allow him to track balls from gap-to-gap with ease in CF. The Vanderbilt recruit finished the day 3 for 4 with a laser HR to CF.

The #2 overall Prospect in the 2023 class, just showing why he’s the #2 overall Prospect. Clark simply just has every tangible/intangible that is required to play this game for a very long time. The LHH controlled the box & barrel throughout the day, ran the bases exceptionally well, & also dominated in his inning of work on the mound. A special talent that is only getting better with time. Clark’s “motor” on & off the field is second to none. FB: 93-96 T97 mph; BB: 77-78 mph.

Take a look at Clark’s measurables (6.47-runner, 92 mph from the outfield, 103 mph exit velocity), and you know he will have a chance to be good. But to experience the full “Max Clark effect”, it has to be done in person, as he makes an impact on the game in everything that he does. An elite five tool player with a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame that was noticeably stronger this summer with definition throughout, Clark is a difference maker on both sides of the ball. His bat is elite thanks to advanced barrel accuracy, a keen eye, and innate sense of timing. Showcasing even more power now, Clark’s intent on elevating his game to new heights is what is sure to gain favor with MLB scouts over the next couple of years, and there is undoubtedly a strong case for him to be the top prospect in the class.

Shooter Hunt: It was a quick look (for me) at Clark at the NPI as many of the other PBR “ground forces” got their first look at the most exciting player in the class for the Indiana Bulls. Noticeably stronger at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, Clark still maintains his elite athleticism and speed which includes a 6.47 60-yard dash time, and continued to show up in games with multiple hits seeming to be collected every time he puts on the uniform. While the bat and defensive prowess are far too valuable to be passed up, Clark is an immense competitor, and hopped on the mound in the playoffs showcasing a fastball that ran up to 91 mph and quality feel for both a curveball (70-72) and changeup (78-80). Vanderbilt recruit.

Vanderbilt commit and high potential two way athlete. LHP got the start on the mound and produced a lot of swings and misses with the fastball which was located down and to both sides of the plate with command. Through four innings fastball sat 88-92 touching 93 in the first and third innings. Slider had late bite but was consistently thrown on the outside half or off the plate to righties. With command could cause problems for hitters. Changeup was good and could play more at this level. Clark has a quick arm and works at a quick pace. Sometimes rushes which turned in to free passes in this outing.  Final line was 4IP 2H 2ER 12K 5BB.

CF Max Clark (Franklin HS, IN), a Vanderbilt recruit, holds steady as the number two player in the class, and the top position player. He is an elite presence on the diamond, and continues to soar to new heights. The now 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has made significant jumps, physically, which has quickly helped him approach the sneaky power potential that his bat holds (103 mph exit velocities in winter workouts). Adding to his consideration as the top athlete in the class, Clark also has run his fastball up to 93 mph on the mound, and continues to be one of the fiercest competitors in the country.

Vanderbilt commit. LHP Medium height, strong well-proportioned body frame with power type legs and arms. Very agile with some quick twitch actions. Has a Mature strength to him. Starts from the middle of the rubber with a short side step to get to his leg kick. Has a belt to chest hand pump, which follows by a H ¾-arm slot. Ball comes out of hand easy. Clark has command and control of three usable pitches. FB has some run and sink as he has small crossfire landing, especially from the stretch. SL has a 2/8 angle break. Sharp and good spin. Circle changeup gives a late fade look. Small drift forward in delivery gets him to rush at times. Fully correctable. High-energy effort and competitive. Athlete that is a two-way player and prospect at both.

Body: 6-foot-1, 190-pound
FB: T88. 87-88 mph. (Max spin 1928;  Avg 1730)
CH: 77-81 mph
SL: 71-75 mph

In a tournament filled with high-level 2021 MLB Draft prospects, Clark, a Vanderbilt recruit, was the best player at the event as only a 2023, and showed why he is a top 10 player in the class (coming soon…). Playing up with and against a collection of a high quality 2021 MLB Draft talent, Clark not only looked comfortable, but also confident. His left-handed stroke is dynamic, and he possesses exceptional understanding of movement patterns with the ability to change planes on the swing along with making pitch-to-pitch adjustments with his approach. Varying between a reverse toe-tap, leg kick, and early setup, his hybrid approach does not hinder the ability to drive the ball to both gaps, and rather serves as a look at the future of hitting. Standing 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with a high waist and a wiry frame that should see a considerable influx of strength in coming years. However, there is present strength in the barrel as evidenced by a 376 foot drive to centerfield with two strikes that left the bat at 96 mph. The barrel stays in the zone for a considerable amount of time allowing coverage of the entire plate, and his lightning-quick hands were even more impressive with two-strikes in protecting the inner-half. Clark looks the part of a future centerfielder, and plays with unlimited energy on defense at all times even as he was shifted to a corner spot for much of the weekend. Interesting to note, and amplifying Clark’s competitive drive, he threw two innings in the championship game, striking out five while running his fastball up to 90 mph. In short, Clark is an impressive prospect in any class and has the highest of ceilings that will be fun to watch him work towards.
Stats: 6-for-15 (3B), 4R, 2HBP, BB, 4SB

Max Clark, Franklin, 2023, IN

Position: OF/LHP

Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pound athletic frame

Hit: Starts in a tall stance with a small load, then uses a short stride to initiate his swing. Above average bat speed. Good extension on his finish, upward swing. Advanced hitter.

Power: 95 mph exit velocity. gap to gap approach. 

Defense: Outfield, Consistent hands, athletic footwork, natural exchange. Athletic. 

Arm: 89 Outfield velocity. Compact arm action, ¾ slot, consistent accuracy. 

Speed: 6.82

Pitching: Advanced. Tall-and-fall delivery, high effort. ¾ arm angle, quick arm speed, compact arm action. Strong balance point, even shoulders, lands square, a falling off finish.

FB: T87. 85-86 mph. Hard action, in the zone accuracy, heavy movement. 

CB: 71-73 mph. Sinking action, in the zone command, 12/6 movement. 

CH: 75-78 mph. Fading action, low in the zone control, tight movement. 

Clark is establishing himself as one of the top players in the Midwest’s 2023 class, if not, the country’s. He combined to go 6-for-7 at the plate over the weekend with three walks and a pair of doubles. At 5-foot-11, 158 pounds, Clark is an elite athlete with quick-twitch ingrained in his game. In the left-handed batter’s box, Clark hits from a balanced/open setup with pre-pitch rhythm. His hands load back, small front foot hang to help his quick trigger. His hands are ultra-quick and his bat speed is electric through the zone, and he demonstrates a mature feel for the barrel – he knows when to unload and when to take what he’s given. When he’s not on the mound, he patrols center with confidence where his footspeed helps him track down fly balls on efficient routes. He’s also a highly talented pitching prospect. From the left side, Clark pitched the Bulls’ first game on Friday night. He has a smooth, repeatable, and easy delivery with a quick arm from a high ¾ slot that surprises hitters. Fastball, 82-84 mph, touching 85 mph multiple times and even reaching 86 mph once, with little effort. Curveball, 1/7 plane, with above-average depth, flashed bite occasionally. He knows how to hold a baserunners, too, and can incorporate an effective slide step when he needs.

2/23/2019: Max Clark, OF/LHP, Franklin Community HS, 2023, 5 foot 11, 158 pounds, ran a 7.22, threw 85 mph from the outfield, and also had an exit velo of 85 mph. Stands slightly open from the left side, uses small leg lift to load. Has plus plus bat speed for his age, and also has advanced bat to ball skill. On the mound throws with a long arm action and a ¾ slot with a small wrist hook in the arm action. Fastball had some ASR and sat 78-81 and touched 83, CB had good 1/7 tilt and sat 61-65, and CH had solid sink and sat 65-66. Max has a bright future and shows a lot of twitch with his bat speed/arm speed combo. He is a high follow in the 2023 class.