Twins Daily Draft Preview: Max Clark

[Jamie Cameron]

Over the next two weeks, we're going to be providing you with profiles of 10 players the Twins could take with the fifth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Today we discuss a five-tool prep hitter that fits the mold of Twins draft choices of the past. 

Image courtesy of Joe Rondone/The Republic

We are only a few days from the beginning of the 2023 MLB Draft. After an overly long runway, we're going to see who the Twins pick fifth overall. Now that we're so proximal to the Draft, rumors are flying. In June, a rumor surfaced that the Pirates would be interested in Clark at number one overall, to save money for later picks. That steam seems to have disappeared. What remains is that Clark is part of a group of consensus top five players, is one of the most likely to be on the board when the Twins pick. So who is he? What does he offer the Minnesota Twins?

Who is He?
Max Clark is a prep outfielder from Franklin, Indiana who was recently awarded the Gatorade High School Player of the Year Award. Clark has been one of two consensus top prep prospects (along with Walker Jenkins) for the entirety of the pre-draft process and has been a consensus top five prospect since the new year. Clark currently sits at number five overall on the Consensus Board and is ranked fourth or fifth overall on every Draft board used as an input.

Why the Twins Will Draft Him
The drop off after the top five prospects in industry pre-draft rankings is stark this year. Clark, the number five prospect on the Consensus Board, has an average ranking of 4.8. Chase Dollander , the current number six prospect, has an average ranking of 10.2. There’s a strong case to be made that if the Twins select Clark, they are taking the best player remaining on their Draft board.

Clark is an electric talent with four tools that already grade as an easy plus. Clark has a direct, short, balanced swing that stays through the zone. He generates line drive, hard contact to all fields. Prior to the 2023 high school season, Clark worked on adding loft to his swing, with impressive results as he went on to put up gaudy numbers in his final season.

Why the Twins Won’t Draft Him
There isn't a good reason the Twins would pass on Clark if he’s available at number five unless another prospect they have higher on their Draft board is still available, which seems unlikely. It has been pointed out (fairly) that the Twins prefer college bats to prep ones, and some fans might be shy of a prep bat in the first round after Keoni Cavaco in 2019. This is a completely different scenario. Cavaco was a helium prospect who rose late on Draft boards. Clark is a viable candidate to be drafted first overall by the Pirates. If the Twins land him at five, they are getting an exceptional talent.

What do you think of Max Clark as a prospect? How would you feel about him being the Twins pick at #5 overall? Join the discussion in the comments.

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Previous Draft Articles and Profiles
Noble Meyer
Rhett Lowder
Jacob Gonzalez
Jacob Wilson
Wyatt Langford
Kyle Teel
Chase Dollander

Nygaard Mock Draft v.2

Consensus Big Board Profiles: 26-50
Consensus Big Board Profiles: 1-25

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[Jocko87]

As reticent as I am to take lefty outfielders early this seems the most likey scenerio. I would prefer him over Jenkins just for the ability to play center field. A call back to the toolsy HS outfielder days of the past but not a bad outcome if that's the way the board falls. It bears repeating, just don't get cute here.

[tony&rodney]

If Clark is the last of the top five available, The Twins should run to the podium to announce their selection - The Minnesota Twins choose Max Clark.

[Beast]

I really like this kid.  I’d be thrilled with the pick.  I’d ultimately prefer Langford (Crews and Skenes aren’t a possibility).  But, Clark seems to be the most likely of the top 5 to be there, and I wouldn’t spend a second thinking about it once on the clock.

[Beast]

50 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

As reticent as I am to take lefty outfielders early this seems the most likey scenerio. I would prefer him over Jenkins just for the ability to play center field. A call back to the toolsy HS outfielder days of the past but not a bad outcome if that's the way the board falls. It bears repeating, just don't get cute here.

I actually prefer the toolsy HS OF approach of the past vs the 25 year old college corner OF/1B/DH approach of the present.

Granted, the new regime hasn’t yet done that in the top 5, but I wouldn’t put anything past them at this point.  I haven’t looked to see if there’s a college 1B ranked in the 30s we need to be concerned about them falling in love with.

[JoeCool]

No brainer pick. If Clark is the only if the top 5 blue chippers available you take him and enjoy the ride. He will be another special talent to add to the mix or Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis. 

[Mike Sixel]

100% on board with taking him

[2wins87]

I can go back and forth between Jenkins and Clark, but at the end of the day, I think if they are going to take a high school bat, I generally want the most dynamic guy available. It seems that Clark is that guy this year. 

[SteveLV]

I like him, I like how he interviews, and I like his fiery play and obsession with improving his body and his game.

Take him if the 3 college studs are gone.

Per the above, seems an easy choice.

[Chris Spencer]

I would be happy with any one of the top 5. I like Clark better than Jenkins. Just dont get cute!

[Dman]

Clark is a perfect fit for the Twins.  Gives them an elite defensive center fielder that can come up with the next wave of young hitters.  Twins are stocked at AAA with guys to try so they have time to wait on high school players if needed.  He might not ever have great power which is dropping him but the Twins can get that from other positions.  If he is there at five and they skip on taking him I will be really disappointed as I think he is BPA and fits a system need.

[Jocko87]

2 hours ago, Beast said:

I actually prefer the toolsy HS OF approach of the past vs the 25 year old college corner OF/1B/DH approach of the present.

Granted, the new regime hasn’t yet done that in the top 5, but I wouldn’t put anything past them at this point.  I haven’t looked to see if there’s a college 1B ranked in the 30s we need to be concerned about them falling in love with.

The 25 yo 1B DH type is so so so far much farther down the board for me than a lefty outfielder it not even the same league.  I'd avoid Teel at all costs, just because you don't know he can stick at catcher. If he doesn't, then what do you have?

[Monkeypaws]

New Max. I like em shiny and new.

[Fatbat]

Max is a winner! He would be a great pick but I have a bad feeling that he will be gone by 5. He also seems like a kid that could speed thru the system and be in AA or AAA in 2025. Best case scenario, he wins rookie of the year like the kid in Seattle and the twins get an extra comp pick as well. Please, please, please, No more Sabatos or Cavaco’s. Ever. 

[jkcarew]

If Clark is there, take him.

If it’s Jenkins, I would be so tempted to go Teel or Dollander.

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

If Clark is there, take him.

If it’s Jenkins, I would be so tempted to go Teel or Dollander.

Same.

[TopGunn#22]

I would love a Max Clark selection.  If he gets picked by Texas then the Twins have a real decision to make.  Walker Jenkins, the other prep outfielder?  Or someone like Lowder, Dollander or Teel.  I just hope we get Max.  

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Max is a winner! He would be a great pick but I have a bad feeling that he will be gone by 5. He also seems like a kid that could speed thru the system and be in AA or AAA in 2025. Best case scenario, he wins rookie of the year like the kid in Seattle and the twins get an extra comp pick as well. Please, please, please, No more Sabatos or Cavaco’s. Ever. 

I could argue that Julien was a "Sabato" - an all-bat player who looked great as a sophomore. Same with Wallner. Encarnacion-Strand was definitely a "Sabato" type player. They can't stop taking power bats just because one didn't pan out. Same with toolsy high school players like Cavaco. There isn't a chance to draft Brooks Lee every year.

[Tibs]

Yes

[HrbieFan]

The concern I have read about Clark is the lack of competition he has faced. I have no clue what he has faced ir hasn't, just going off of so called experts articles. I believe it was The Athletic that said he didn't travel amongst top tier competition.  If Clark is the pick, here's to him being the next Trout 

[dex8425]

9 minutes ago, HrbieFan said:

The concern I have read about Clark is the lack of competition he has faced. I have no clue what he has faced ir hasn't, just going off of so called experts articles. I believe it was The Athletic that said he didn't travel amongst top tier competition.  If Clark is the pick, here's to him being the next Trout 

Yeah, Indiana travel baseball isn't CA travel baseball. His high school season was even less competitive. But that's evidenced by his ridiculous numbers....Clark hit .646 with an unbelievable .808 on-base percentage for Franklin HS.

[Doctor Gast]

I wouldn't mind any of the top 5, & I'd include Teel in that group, because I have faith he can excel at catching.  Crews is by far my top pick but I won't hold my breath on the possibility of getting him. IMO the next 5 are pretty close. By the time Clark  is ready we could use a good CF, although we aren't hurting at CF as we are at catching. IMO I'd take Teel over Jenkins or even Clark but I trust our scouts know better than me. 

[weitz41]

I'm open to any of the top 5. I think Langford, Skenes and Crews are the ones you can't pass on. Jenkins or Clark, I'd be happy if they drafted either, just not sure about the you can't justify passing on them part. I'm hoping for some under slot funny business in the top 4 and one of the first three are there at 5.

But if it's Clark at 5 that's a great start to the draft. Especially when they should be picking at 13.

[jmlease1]

Clark seems fine? Lot of talent, lot of development that will need to happen. He won't be going to AA immediately with an ETA of arrival in MLB in 2025, so some patience will be required. (although that would be amazing if he starts off in Ft. Myers and just kills it) The tools are there. I'm not afraid of taking a HS player with a top 5 pick; I get nervous about players projected as being a reach. Haven't seen any of that on Clark.

Right now I want them to take the best player available, because I'm hoping they don't have another year where they get access to the top 5 in a while. 

[Jocko87]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I could argue that Julien was a "Sabato" - an all-bat player who looked great as a sophomore. Same with Wallner. Encarnacion-Strand was definitely a "Sabato" type player. They can't stop taking power bats just because one didn't pan out. Same with toolsy high school players like Cavaco. There isn't a chance to draft Brooks Lee every year.

Julien in the 18th round and CES in the 4th both had potential positional flexibility at the time. In the first round your power bat better play solid defense somewhere other than 1st base or you are committed to the bat having to be a monster to play out. Wallner is the Jenkins mold, he can play outfield but probably no gold gloves.

Sabato was a 1B/DH only. I can't spend that much draft capital on a narrow success window.

I would agree on toolsy high schoolers though, draft or signing. Cavaco may still have a bit of trade value down the road but he also could have been Elly de La Cruz. Lottery tickets have to have upside. Sabato always had limited upside.

[Teflon]

I would be really really excited if Max Clark was still there at #5 - but also worried that he turns out to be as brittle as Lewis and Buxton who were similar toolsy Top 5 schoolboy picks. Do you think requiring "adamantium bonding"  would be viewed as unethical?

[Twins33]

This is the one for me. I’m assuming Crews/Skenes/Langford will be gone, if they aren’t for some crazy reason take one of them. 
 

Clark>>>>Jenkins > Lowder > Teel in that order for me. I’m hoping the Rangers don’t take Clark, but all the mocks seem to be putting him to TX now. 

[Roaddog]

Honestly if we are picking that high, if don't go for the toolsy guys, I'll be disappointed. My pipe dream is that Langford falls in our lap. Otherwise best available talent.