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Top MLB Prospect Had Embarrassing Admission After Meeting Bryce Harper

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated Jul 12, 2025 5:25 PM ET

Detroit Tigers prospect Max Clark has quickly become one of the baseball's more prominent rising talents, sitting 12th in the latest MLB.com Top 100 rankings.

The 20-year-old outfielder has yet to make his major league debut after signing a $7.7 million contract with Detroit after being drafted No. 3 overall in 2023. He is currently making his way through the Tigers' minor league system with the West Michigan Whitecaps in High-A after advancing from the Lakeland Flying Tigers in Single-A.

Despite not making it to the majors yet, he was able to play with the Tigers during spring training and even interacted with Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper in his first game.

“Funny enough, my first big league camp start was against the Phillies, and I ended up drawing a walk,” Clark recalled during a recent interview posted on X. “Reached first base and Bryce Harper was playing first and he said, ‘What’s up, Max.’”

Max Clark was completely starstruck meeting Bryce Harper pic.twitter.com/A3O2c9j60N
— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2025

Clark noted he was caught off guard by the moment and didn’t say anything. “I couldn’t get a word out of my mouth, so I hit him with 'Bryce Harper,'” he admitted.

“And then didn’t say anything the rest of the time. Obviously, star-struck. When you grow up idolizing those guys, to be able to share the field was special.”

Clark’s remarks came as Harper is considered one of the league’s most recognizable players. He is a two-time National League MVP, eight-time MLB All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger.

That's the type of career that Clark can hope for once he makes it to the big leagues.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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