HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Baseball has had its share of famous high school prospects.
Alex Rodriguez. Bryce Harper. Ken Griffey Jr.
Those teenagers' names were known nationally to fans before they signed their first pro contracts.
Like that trio, Indiana high school outfielder Max Clark has a chance to be drafted first overall. And it seems like only a matter of time before the 18-year-old Franklin Community High product is a household name.
Clark already has as much social media clout as any prep baseball prospect. He has 600,000-plus ritualistically checking their smartphone notifications across a handful of social media platforms, where his brand thrives.
A simple Google search reveals that the hype for Clark is real.
From a Wikipedia page of his own to a YouTube clip of him putting "on a show for his last BP at Perfect Game!" in early June to the biggest of all questions: "Will Max Clark get drafted?"
Now, Clark adds one more Google search result: Baseball America High School Player of the Year.
"Yeah, he's a busy guy," Franklin Community baseball coach Ryan Feyerabend said. "And he handles it all like a pro, good or bad."
Lately, it has been far more good for Clark. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound lefthanded hitter completed a remarkable senior campaign that included a .646 batting average with 33 RBIS, 45 runs scored and six home runs with a state-record 52 walks in 120 plate appearances.
Clark, who is from Franklin, about 20 miles south of Indianapolis, finished his high school career with a .551 average in 216 at-bats. He hit 21 home runs while striking out just 16 times in three seasons. His 2020 freshman year was wiped out by the pandemic.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June - July 2023-Ausgabe von Baseball America.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June - July 2023-Ausgabe von Baseball America.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
Blaze Alexander entered spring training as a long shot to make the team, but there he was on March 28, starting and batting seventh in the D-backs’ Opening Day lineup.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Louisville Slugger makes Prime bat 30% harder by dipping into 1902 company patent
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
After narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament last year, UC Irvine is determined to finish strong
MORE HARM THAN GOOD?
Dramatically scaling back young pitchers’ workloads has failed to keep them healthier
GEM COLLECTOR
In just four years, Diamond Baseball Holdings has become the most powerful owner ever in Minor League Baseball. What is the plan for their 33 teams—and counting?
LIFE AFTER AFFILIATED BALL
For many minor league teams that lost their MLB affiliations, it has been business as usual— with some unexpected benefits
EARNING POWER
A dramatic upgrade to playing conditions for minor leaguersincluding pay, housing and nutrition has made pro baseball economically viable for all players
NOBODY'S PERFECT
No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday has one flaw in an otherwise airtight profile
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
At nearly every level of his professional career, outfielder Colton Cowser has taken time to acclimate. His major league debut last season was no different.
