Indiana's best prospect in decades: Max Clark picked No. 3 in MLB draft
Max Clark's Franklin High School career ended in May, and on July 9 he became the No. 3 overall pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.
Clark hit .646 this season and .551 over three seasons for the Grizzly Cubs, according to MaxPreps. Other career numbers: .713 on-base percentage, 21 home runs, 95 runs batted in, 119 hits and 120 runs. He helped the United States win the under-18 World Cup last fall.
The left-handed outfielder is committed to Vanderbilt, but he could start a pro career immediately. First-round MLB Draft picks have slotted contracts.
Previous coverage: Franklin's Max Clark is hitting bombs and winning gold
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Max Clark MLB.com scouting report
"Clark is the best prospect to come out of Indiana since Bryan Bullington went No. 1 overall in 2002 and the state's best prepster ever. He's a viable candidate for the Pirates with the top pick, though it may be difficult for him to vault the elite college players available. Besides his physical ability, Clark has excellent makeup and a penchant for rising to the occasion, such as when he provided a clutch homer against Canada and three hits in the gold medal-winning game against Taiwan at the 18-and-under World Cup in September.
"Clark has four tools that grade as at least plus, starting with his hitting ability, which some evaluators rate as plus-plus. He has a sweet left-handed swing and a mature approach that focuses on smoking line drives from gap to gap. He presently concentrates on making hard contact rather than launching balls, but his bat speed and projectable strength should translate into at least 20-homer power that he already hints at in batting practice.
"Clark is a double-plus runner and his quickness makes him an asset on the bases and in the outfield. The Vanderbilt is a no-doubt center fielder who enhances his physical ability with his reads and routes. He also has a well above-average arm that produces fastballs clocked up to 97 mph when he takes the mound."
Max Clark wins Gatorade National Player of the Year
Clark was named the nation's top high school baseball player in 2023 by Gatorade. Clark joined the likes of Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez and Clayton Kershaw in earning that honor.
Max Clark highlights
When is the 2023 MLB Draft?
First round is Sunday, July 9, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, MLB Network.
The draft continues Monday, July 10 and Tuesday, July 11.
Who is the No. 1 MLB Draft prospect?
LSU outfielder Dylan Crews is the No. 1 prospect, according to MLB.com, followed by LSU right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes, Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford, and South Brunswick (N.C.) outfielder Walker Jenkins. Clark is No. 5.
2023 MLB Draft order
First round
Detroit Tigers
St. Louis Cardinals
Seattle Mariners (prospect promotion incentive picks)
Competitive balance round A
Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlines, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland A's
How many rounds are in the MLB Draft?
20.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: MLB draft: Why Indiana high schooler Max Clark is potential No. 1 pick
