Mayo: Don't judge a book by its cover -- especially Max Clark

If there was ever a prospect that epitomizes the well-worn adage “don’t judge a book by its cover,” it’s Max Clark.

Some of this the 21-year-old outfield phenom definitely brings on himself. The chains, the eye black, the huge social media following. A lot of it screams “LOOK AT ME,” and with that, there is an assumption that he’s only about himself and his outward appearance.

I’ve been lucky enough to get to know Clark, the No. 13 overall prospect in baseball, pretty well since his high school days. And I’ll admit that the “old school” part of me was dubious when I first saw him at USA Baseball’s complex in Cary, North Carolina for the PDP League in the summer of 2022. Who needs THAT much eye black, after all?

But then I spoke with him, more than once during that week, not always about baseball. I interviewed him, along with Walker Jenkins, for the MLB Pipeline Podcast, and I realized that there was more there under the hood. But beyond what he said, it’s what others said about him.

Former big leaguers who were instructors for Team USA couldn’t say enough good things about him. This is not a population that typically falls over itself to heap praise on the younger generation; there’s often a lot of “In my day” griping involved. Not so with Clark. He’s a sponge for knowledge, they said. He listens intently, they reported back to me. He’s a fantastic teammate, they acknowledged. He plays the game the right way.

That might fly in the face of the outward appearance. Many of us older folk have grown tired of the me-first attitudes we see from the younger generations, especially in sports. And Clark definitely does not shy away from attention or the spotlight. There is some method to his madness. That outsized social media presence? Yes, he enjoys the attention, but he’s cultivated it so he can actively interact with young fans and baseball players who are looking for guidance and support.

There’s no question he’s aware that how he carries himself can bring some negative backlash with it. Look at Spring Training, when he really struggled in the outfield during Grapefruit League games. The social media response from those who knew nothing about him other than the bling and the swagger was harsh, to put it mildly. But one only needs to look at Clark’s response when talking to reporters after the game to know what he’s really about. There was accountability, a recognition that it was his fault, that he had to find a way to make those plays. In other words, he sounded nothing like the selfish, flashy player people have tried to make him out to be.

Are there times when Clark might be better served by turning down the volume? Probably so, and that’s something he’ll learn as he goes along. Keep in mind he’s only 21 years old, and while he has a very good head on his shoulders, there’s much to learn, both on and off the field. But there’s always a call to make baseball more fun, with more personality. You can’t wish for that and then ask one of the game’s most exciting future stars to mute himself.

He’s just wired differently, and shouldn’t be punished for it. How he’s handled this season is a perfect look at what makes him tick. While his friend and teammate (and former roommate) Kevin McGonigle made the Opening Day roster, Clark went to Triple-A to keep working on his game. And for the first three months of the season, his performance was … ordinary. Through June 30, he had a .731 OPS, hitting .261/.342/.388.

To his credit, he wasn’t trying to get called up to the big leagues with every swing, a pitfall many a young player has experienced when on the cusp. But it turns out that patiently waiting does not suit Clark and his larger-than-life personality. Then a light went off in July, when, as Clark told me, he rediscovered his edge. He’s one of those guys who needs to play with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, and once he shifted his mindset from biding his time to “Why haven’t they called me up? I’ll show them!” he went off. He carries a .338/.466/.620 line over 19 July games with him to the big leagues, nearly doubling his home run total for the season.

None of this is a guarantee for success, of course. We all know how humbling this game is. But I urge fans to enjoy the ride, and just let Max Clark be Max Clark. You won’t be disappointed.