Clark, who was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in baseball at the end of last season, realized that he needed to eat more during the season as his weight was fluctuating. To address this issue, the former Gatorade National Player of the Year made changes to his diet by opting for cleaner, leaner meals. His favorite dish is sautéed rosemary chicken with asparagus topped with parmesan cheese.
Maintaining his weight is closely linked to addressing the remaining question about Clark’s performance. The baseball industry has always viewed his hitting ability as a strong point, along with his arm strength, fielding skills, and speed. The one area where Clark still needs to prove himself as a professional player is in hitting for power.
Clark is well aware of these challenges and is focused on maintaining a high-contact approach and a strong batting average. He believes in his raw strength to hit the ball hard like any top prospect. During the offseason, his training in the batting cage focused on making subtle adjustments to his swing to unleash the power he knows he possesses.
“I work hard in the weight room,” Clark stated. “It’s not about lacking strength; it’s more about finding the right approach to generate power. Throughout the offseason, we worked on improving posture over the plate to achieve a higher launch angle on the ball, resulting in more power. A higher launch angle equals more distance.”
Clark emphasizes the importance of being a skilled hitter over just being a power hitter. While he aims to excel in both aspects, his primary focus will always be on hitting. He acknowledges the mental aspect of the game and the need to block out distractions, especially given his high profile on social media.
In preparing for Spring Training, Clark values the support and guidance from his Tigers teammates, including fellow prospects like Kevin McGonigle and established big leaguers such as Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter. He is focused on learning and improving every day, without setting specific expectations for when he might make his Major League debut. At 20 years old, Clark’s priority is to compete fiercely and let his performance speak for itself.
“I try not to set any specific goals in terms of affiliates or levels because I believe it just adds unnecessary pressure on oneself,” stated Clark. “My focus is on winning each week, each month, and ultimately, each half of the season. Looking at the bigger picture, my aim is to maintain consistency. I strive to be mentally sharp and stay fully engaged day in and day out, aiming to sustain this level of performance throughout the 130 to 150 games scheduled for this year.”
Acknowledging the inevitable ebbs and flows of the game, Clark reflected on the previous year’s challenges. “There were some slow slumps last season, which is part and parcel of baseball. However, my objective is to navigate through those tough times more swiftly and extend periods of success. Finding ways to capitalize on the highs will be crucial moving forward.”
For more updates on high school baseball, stay connected with IndyStar’s insider Akeem Glaspie on X at @THEAkeemGlaspie.
This article was originally published on Indianapolis Star, highlighting Detroit Tigers’ top prospect Max Clark’s readiness to elevate his performance in the upcoming 2025 season.
