Max Clark

School: Franklin (Ind.) Community HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Vanderbilt
Age At Draft: 18.6
BA Grade:60/High
Tools:Hit: 60. Power: 50. Run: 70. Field: 60. Arm: 70.

A high school hitter from Indiana has never been selected among the top 10 picks in the draft, but Clark is well-positioned to become the first thanks to his combination of pure hitting ability, athleticism and big-time supplemental tools. Clark has long been considered one of the best pure hitters in the 2023 class, thanks to a smooth, balanced swing that’s quick, compact and through the hitting zone with a good bat path. On top of a clean mechanical swing, Clark has advanced strike-zone discipline and hand-eye coordination, with an ability to manipulate his swing based on the situation and location of the pitch. He rarely swings and misses and over a 765-pitch sample with Synergy from 2020-2022, Clark missed at just a 13% rate. In general, Clark has a line drive, hit-first approach at the plate, but he lowered his handset this spring in an attempt to drive the ball for more power, and could grow into solid or better power in the future thanks to a well-proportioned and muscular, 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame. While his future impact potential is perhaps the biggest question of his profile, there’s no doubting Clark’s supplemental tools. He has routinely turned in 70-grade run times, both in workout environments and in games, with excellent quickness out of the box and the ability to turn infield ground balls into singles and liners to the gap into doubles. His speed plays well on the bases and in center field, where he should be a plus defender with standout athleticism and solid defensive instincts. He has one of the best throwing arms in the prep class, a 70-grade tool that has been into the mid 90s on the mound. Clark is committed to Vanderbilt, but is expected to be a top-five pick thanks to all-star upside via a well-rounded tool set and no-doubt center field profile.