How Max Clark Brought Life to Tigers Team That Desperately Needed It

The Detroit Tigers looked dead in the water just two weeks ago. They were coming off a series loss to the Baltimore Orioles and were seven games below .500. Trade talks around Tarik Skubal were ramping up, and a fire sale appeared to be the path for the Tigers.

Then, Detroit called up outfielder Max Clark on July 31st. It was an exciting move for many fans who had been anticipating his major league debut. A couple of days later, the Tigers swept the Athletics, but Skubal and Casey Mize were out the door.

Even though Detroit gained slight momentum, it felt like the door closed on a playoff run. But the Tigers didn't back down.

Clark's Call Up Brought Much-Needed Energy

Detroit Tigers center fielder Max Clark looks on. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Suddenly, Detroit is 8-2 since his debut, and they have an opportunity to return to .500 entering Wednesday. That's not a coincidence; it was a spark.

For contending teams, a newly acquired player at the trade deadline can bring energy to the clubhouse. The baseball season is long and grueling. Teams need energy to stay motivated. Perhaps all it took was for a young player like Clark to come in and bring the Tigers some much-needed life.

Clark is slashing .293/.370/.463 with 12 hits, seven RBIs, and four walks. He's been a huge help for the bottom of the order. On Tuesday, he finally got to play in front of the home crowd and roam the huge outfield.

"I've watched every single game. I know how the crowd gets," Clark said, per Jason Beck of mlb.com. It's an unbelievable city, a city that works hard, and that's the type of player that I want to be. Just giving it back to them. We want to go win some games to make these people happy."

It's not just the fans who are noticing Clark's stellar play. His manager, A.J. Hinch, has taken notice. Hinch said that Clark has found ways to help the team win, whether it's base running, getting on base, or playing well in the outfield, per Beck.

Obviously, Clark isn't the sole reason why Detroit improved. The offense as a whole is taking better at-bats and is giving the pitching staff plenty of run support. The bullpen is holding up as well. But Clark's presence is certainly helping.

There is still work to do. The Tigers are inching up the standings and playing great baseball right now. But it's also impossible to ignore the future of this club, with guys like Clark and Kevin McGonigle at the forefront.

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