Detroit Tigers outfielder Max Clark is still getting used to MLB, but handled his response to a costly mistake in Tuesday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays like a big leaguer. In the top of the fourth inning of a scoreless game, Rays deadline acquisition Liam Hicks lined a ball to center field, outside of Clark's reach. The ball took an odd bounce off of the grass, crossing up Clark and rolling past him to allow Hicks to move to second and Junior Caminero, who began the play on first, to third.
The Rays went on to score the first run of the game later in the inning off of a Johnny DeLuca single. Clark, rather than getting defensive when asked about the play after the game, owned up to the mistake. "It took a weird hop, but it's unacceptable regardless," Clark said.
"It's almost embarrassing, to be honest with you. ...That just can’t happen. Jobe probably should have been 5 [shutout innings]. I cost him two ups and a run.
Hopefully that gets reversed for him." The Tigers ultimately took the win over the Rays, with Clark playing a huge role. He hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning, his first MLB home run in Detroit and second of the season. The Tigers' No. 1 prospect has played 24 games with the team since his call up at the end of July, posting a .681 OPS with two homers, 12 RBIs and above-average defense.
Clark entered the year as the No. 10 prospect in MLB and the No. 2 prospect in the Tigers' organization, but Kevin McGonigle's graduation from prospect status earlier in the year made him the top prospect in the organization. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft out of high school, Clark shot up the minors through his first three professional seasons and started 2026 in Triple-A. The outfielder played 90 games in Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens this year, and posted an .802 OPS with 11 homers and 42 RBIs over the course of his time in Triple-A.
He fell to No. 13 on MLB's Top 100 prospects list, but he has the potential to be a key player with the Tigers in the future.
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