How Max Clark's new tattoo symbolizes his eventful spring

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The wide-eyed look from Max Clark as he watched Pirates No. 3 prospect Seth Hernandez deliver a 102 mph fastball to begin his at-bat became the lasting image of the Tigers’ Spring Breakout game Friday night.

The frustrated look from Clark as the left fielder battled the sun on two fly balls against the Braves on Feb. 24 became, unfairly, one of the lasting images of his first Major League camp, sparking a stereotype-laden debate on the prospect’s jewelry that inevitably took on a get-off-my-lawn feel.

Neither image should be how Clark’s Spring Training is evaluated, let alone his persona. The better image to evaluate his spring is harder to spot, but easy to find: It’s tattooed on his right side.

“Every fall is a chance to rise,” the tattoo reads, running vertically down his side.

He got that tattoo the day after the Tigers re-assigned him to Minor League camp after a 2-for-18 performance in Grapefruit League play.

“Knocked that one out,” he said before Friday’s game. “It really resonated with me, stuck with me, hit me hard, especially after struggling a little bit.”

It was part of the transition for him. While good friend and Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle became the talk of camp, putting himself in the conversation for an Opening Day roster spot, Clark was overshadowed. Eventually, they were in separate camps.

“The first 24 hours were hard,” he said. “It was a completely deserved move; I was just upset with myself more than anyone else. I didn't feel like I put my true foot forward, but I was still able to take a lot of good lessons out of there and move forward in a good headspace.”

He’s doing his best to put that into practice. Since heading to the back fields at Tigertown, the Tigers’ No. 2 prospect (and MLB’s No. 10 overall prospect) has been one of the stars of Minor League camp. When he got another chance with the Major League club as an extra player for the late innings, he walked and scored the tying run against the Orioles last week.

For all the buzz about his face on Friday, he drew a walk against Hernandez in that at-bat, then drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder his next time up, surviving a nasty collision at first base with Pirates second baseman and No. 7 prospect Termarr Johnson.

That’s how you move on from a rough stretch. And the Tigers have noticed.

“I think for Max, big league camp was great,” Tigers vice president of player development Ryan Garko said. “I think the important part is inside the clubhouse, he got to know the group, and they all really enjoyed getting to know Max. He fit in great with our current Major League team, and he learned a lot from the veterans. He really is a good teammate, and he's well liked throughout the organization.

“I think, like any young player, I think [he was] probably trying to do a little bit too much in his first spring, which is pretty normal for a 21-year-old. He's come back to camp on our side and really been swinging the bat really well. I think he's been able to slow the game down a little bit. We're starting to see the quality of at-bat tick way back up. He's working counts and swinging at his pitches again, staying through the ball, hitting the ball in the air.”

It’s the mindset that vaulted Clark to the upper levels of the farm system in the first place.

“Still trying to put one foot forward and go win a job, win an opportunity, win a game, whatever it may be,” Clark said. “On the back fields, on the main fields, it's still the same, especially when I step on the field. I care about helping the team win.

“Obviously, didn't have the camp we wanted to have, but there were still so many lessons in there that you can take and apply to the Minor League game. And it was fun. It was nice to go back and look at some of the plans that I had in big league camp where I failed to execute.”

The way Clark rebounded has been strong enough that he is expected to open the season at Triple-A Toledo. It could still be the first time he and McGonigle are apart, if McGonigle makes Detroit’s roster. But if Clark continues to rise, they could soon be living the dream as Major League teammates.

“Always supporting that guy,” Clark said. “There’s no better kid.”