Tigers' AJ Hinch praises Max Clark's defense, outlines next steps as hitter

DETROIT — As Max Clark continues his end-of-season development journey, Tigers manager AJ Hinch has noticed significant progress in the outfielder's defensive skills. While Clark's catches continue to impress, Hinch emphasizes that the most notable improvement has come from his defensive moves beyond recording outs. Hinch praised Clark's increased focus on positioning himself to make difficult plays, such as jumping to catch a ball or throwing to second base for a force out, even if those plays don't result in an official out.

This development, Hinch noted, has been a pleasant surprise given Clark's already impressive range and ability to make acrobatic catches lower in the minors. With a high prospect ranking, fans have seen Clark's potential, and he has indeed delivered in July, batting .250 with two home runs, 13 RBIs, and 11 runs scored. As Clark settles into his major-league role, Hinch hopes his defensive abilities will continue to improve with practice and familiarity.

However, Hinch also sees room for improvement in Clark's approach at the plate, suggesting that the young outfielder may be overanalyzing his at-bats due to access to scouting reports and pitch analytics. To reach his full potential, Hinch believes Clark must learn to simplify his thinking and trust his natural talent, allowing the instincts honed through experience to take precedence over his studious approach.