LAKELAND, Fla. -- Max Clark’s first Major League camp is over. But the Tigers’ No. 2 prospect showed plenty with Detroit in Spring Training to reassure that it won’t be his last.
With just a couple weeks left in Spring Training and the Tigers ramping up playing time for their regular outfielders, Clark was reassigned to Minor League camp on Monday morning. Also sent out were No. 6 prospect Hao-Yu Lee (to Triple-A Toledo), No. 7 prospect Thayron Liranzo (to Double-A Erie) and No. 25 prospect Eduardo Valencia (to Toledo).
Clark, MLB Pipeline’s No. 10 prospect overall, did not have to be optioned or assigned to a level, since he was in camp as a non-roster invite. He spent last season between High-A West Michigan and Erie, slashing .271/.403/.432 combined with 17 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, 67 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Clark batted 2-for-18 this spring with an RBI, a walk and five strikeouts. He drew some unwanted attention early in Grapefruit League when he lost a couple of fly balls in the sun on Feb. 24 against Atlanta, but his ability to learn from his at-bats and his innings made an impression on Tigers staff.
“I think he learned a lot in this camp, but I think he grew a lot in this camp,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I love Max Clark. I love the way he goes about his work. He's obsessed with baseball and getting better. Up to last night, he and I were texting last night about different game scenarios. So the way he is hungry to be better is really encouraging.
“I know production-wise he was disappointed with his overall camp, but it's a great stepping stone for him to be a better, more well-rounded player. He is a continuous learner, and I think for him, the experience all the way around was more positive than not, even though he wants to be perfect.”
The timing of the move came down to playing time. Clark isn’t ready for the big leagues yet, and with the Tigers’ primary outfielders ramping up their workload in preparation for Opening Day on March 26 in San Diego, his best chance at innings are in Minor League camp.
“He basically would be sitting around waiting for one at-bat at the end of games,” Hinch said. “The playing time has dried up a little bit, and it's time for him to go get into his routines and take some things he learned in this camp and go apply it day-to-day in his work. We may see him a few more times over here when I actually have playing time [available], but it's just drying up with the guys playing the outfield over the next handful of days. Guys are going to start playing seven innings pretty routinely. That's not the most productive time for Max as a player, where he's at.”
Liranzo will get a second season as the Double-A catcher after injuries limited his time behind the plate with the SeaWolves last year.
“He got his body in really good shape to be able to move a little bit better,” Hinch said. “There are some small subtleties in all aspects of his catching that need to continue to grow, but he gets on the [40-man] roster, he’s one step closer to getting to the big leagues. I think the highlight of camp with him was seeing how proud he was to play in the Dominican [last week in exhibitions against the World Baseball Classic team], but his overall game, I think, has taken a step forward.”
Valencia returns to Toledo, where his breakout season ended last year. Depending on what happens with non-roster invite Tomás Nido, Valencia could end up as the Tigers’ insurance catcher in case of injury to Dillon Dingler -- who made his first start at catcher on Monday following offseason elbow surgery -- or Jake Rogers.
“We need to continue to get [Valencia] comfortable with our pitchers,” Hinch said. “He needs to catch a little bit, because he’s one foul tip away from [us] needing [him], or it could be a quick call-up for a weekend.”
Lee returned to Lakeland over the weekend after suffering a left oblique strain while preparing for the World Baseball Classic with Team Chinese Taipei. He remains sidelined, but Hinch doesn’t expect him to miss significant time into the season.