With a nickname like “Spark,” you better live up to it.
On Friday, Max Clark did just that, showing off his 70-grade speed in Toledo’s 7-3 loss to Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field with an RBI triple you need to see to believe.
The Tigers’ top prospect came to the plate in the bottom of the first with a runner on third. Facing Pirates No. 7 prospect Antwone Kelly, Clark worked the count to 2-2 with a couple of foul balls. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Clark became “Spark,” crushing a grounder down the first-base line off the bat at 100.3 mph and sending it into the corner.
With a 29.2 ft/sec sprint speed, Clark made it to third base standing up -- his 11.44-second home-to-third time was faster than any Tigers triple since Colt Keith on Sept. 26, 2024.
COMPLETE TIGERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
For the month of May, MLB’s No. 8 overall prospect has been consistent, but the production has been below his usual output. Despite a hit in 13 out of 16 games, Clark currently has an unremarkable .232 average with just seven RBIs for the month, including the triple. It was his fourth extra-base hit of May, with the others all doubles. Home run pop isn't the key to his game, but he last went deep April 17.
He fared better in April with 10 extra-base hits and a .298 average over 23 games. Looking back at 2025, Clark took off in the mid-summer months, culminating in a scorching July in which he posted a 1.014 OPS. The month also featured a promotion from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie and an All-Star Futures Game appearance for good measure.
While it’s very possible that Clark’s bat will warm up with the weather, his speed on the basepaths remains red-hot.