Tigers promote top outfield prospect Max Clark

The Detroit Tigers are slowly fading in the standings (51-58), sitting 6 games out of the American League Central standings and 4.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot in the AL.

To add insult to injury (literally), a few of the Tigers' outfielders, Matt Vierling and Kerry Carpenter (left foot plantar fasciitis), have found themselves on the sidelines. Vierling has not officially been placed on the injured list after leaving Wednesday's game with a groin injury, but will likely wind up there. 

Replacing Vierling on the active roster, the Tigers are making a call to the minor leagues to call up one of their top prospects: Max Clark. 

The Tigers are calling up Max Clark for their series against the Athletics

Opening a three-game series with the Athletics on Friday, the Tigers will be adding Clark to the active roster to play center field, according to Baseball America's Emily Waldon. Clark has played all but one of his 90 games (89 starts in center field) up the middle, with the one game coming at DH. 

With the Toledo Mud Hens, Clark made six outfield assists and committed only two errors in 767 2/3 innings. Ranked as the 13th-best prospect in Major League Baseball by MLB Pipeline, the 21-year-old is joining his draftmate Kevin McGonigle -- Clark was drafted third overall in 2023, while McGonigle was drafted 37th overall -- in the Tigers' lineup. 

McGonigle is a leading candidate to win the American League Rookie of the Year and was awarded an eight-year ($150 million) contract for his success this season. 

Max Clark should add another young and dynamic bat to the Tigers' lineup

Struggling to impress the Tigers in spring training -- Clark went 2-for-18 at the plate and struggled in the field -- the Tigers sent him to Toledo to figure things out. Clark's season had been hot and cold, slashing .298/.371/.421 in 94 at-bats in April, to dropping down to .232/.305/.326 in 95 at-bats in May. 

Since May, Clark's bat has come back to life, mashing four home runs and having a slugging percentage of .416 in 89 at-bats in June and adding another five home runs with a .620 slugging percentage in 71 at-bats in July. Not known for his power, Clark opened his stance while raising his hands to help the Indiana native elevate the ball more. 

"Clark raised his hands and opened his stance in his second full season, alterations that allowed his bat to stay in the zone longer and helped him to elevate better on contact," per MLB Pipeline's scouting report. 

With Vierling down and backup center fielder James Outman underperforming -- Outman is batting .162 with a .515 OPS and 70 strikeouts in 154 at-bats and is batting .143 with 24 strikeouts in 56 at-bats in July -- Clark should get a ton of runway to see what he can bring to the roster.