Tigers top prospect looks like he could factor into 2025 plans as ascension continues

Despite remaining the Tigers' No. 1 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) through a rankings shakeup last month, there seems to be less noise around Max Clark this season than Jackson Jobe, who's right behind him. It might have something to do with the fact that Jobe is closer to the majors than Clark, and some fans were calling for his acceleration through Double-A and then Triple-A given the Tigers' starter deficit during the second half of the season.

However, maybe the slight decrease in attention has been good for Clark. He started off the year rather poorly in Single-A, batting .182 through his first nine games and then unfortunately got roasted for his custom "receipt cleats," which were covered in negative posts expressing generally the same sentiment: that Clark was overrated.

But he was promoted to High-A in late June after finishing off his A-ball career with a .286 average, .807 OPS, seven homers, and 58 RBI. Through 30 games in High-A so far, he's batting .274 with a .801 OPS, making it clear that he can stay consistent as he levels up.

Clark covered two levels of the minors this season; is there a chance he could do it again, and faster, next year, and potentially factor into the Tigers' major league picture in 2025?

Max Clark might be writing himself into the Tigers' 2025 plans as he continues to dominate

A 2025 call up might not be completely insane if Clark starts 2025 in Double-A and can earn a promotion to Triple-A by June. That would probably have him making his major league debut in September if all goes well, perhaps alongside Jobe, who the Tigers have seemed completely resistant to rushing through the minors, but is definitely due for a promotion to Triple-A by next year.

The Tigers offense looks mostly set, given the successes of Trey Sweeney and Jace Jung upon their late-season call-ups, along with Parker Meadows and Spencer Torkelson's improvements after their demotions. All of Detroit's position players are far from free agency, so the core we're seeing now could be the core we see for the next three or four years.

But it's also hard to see the Tigers hesitating to bring up their No. 1 prospect and first pick in the 2023 draft as soon as he looks ready to debut. Clark still has a lot to prove in the minors, but an appearance in Detroit next season might not be completely out of the cards if his development continues on this path.