LAKELAND, FL – Max Clark is one of the best prospects in baseball.
The 21-year-old center fielder reported early to spring training after receiving an invitation from the Detroit Tigers to big-league camp for the first time. He walked off the field after practice Wednesday, Feb. 11, doing exactly what you’d expect – laughing and joking with a groundskeeper.
He is an extreme extrovert with a mature mindset.
“I just want to go out there and learn and be the best I can be,” Clark said. “Show my skill set. Have a blast doing it. I mean, this clubhouse got really good, really fast. It was already really good last year, and there’s just so much talent, so much knowledge around it, so I’m trying to take a piece from it each and every day, go from there and continue to grow.”
Oh, and Kevin McGonigle is here, too.
The 21-year-old shortstop ranks as the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball, trailing only Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin.
McGonigle broke into a huge smile when asked about being in the same clubhouse with right-hander Justin Verlander and left-hander Framber Valdez, both signed by the Tigers within the past seven days.
“He’s a legend,” McGonigle said of Verlander. “I’m just excited to learn from both of those guys, from all the years they’ve been in the league and how they go about their business. I’ll see if they have any tips for me.”
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Both McGonigle and Clark joined the Tigers for games during 2025 spring training, but only as call-ups from minor-league camp.
In 2026, they have lockers in the main clubhouse.
“It’s unbelievable,” McGonigle said. “I’m super excited. I think the biggest thing I’m going to take out of this is just learning from everyone and trying to play some good baseball and help these guys win some spring games.”
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What happens to Troy Melton?
The five-man rotation is set: Valdez, Verlander, left-hander Tarik Skubal, right-hander Jack Flaherty and right-hander Casey Mize.
Just like that, several starting pitchers have been impacted by Valdez and Verlander, taking away two previously unfilled spots in the rotation. The arms affected include right-handers Troy Melton, Drew Anderson and Keider Montero, among others.
“Those guys will start games down here,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’ve got to continue to build [volume] because anything is possible. We’ll make sure to build their pitch counts and their routines, and then audible when we need to halfway through camp.”
Melton could be bumped to the Triple-A Toledo rotation.
Or he could be placed in the Tigers’ bullpen.
“Always good to have good players, first things first, for the team,” Melton said. “It’s just a good thing. Obviously, you can learn a lot from just watching them. I haven’t gotten a chance to meet either of them yet, but I’m sure I will over the next few hours, days, whatever. But yeah, super exciting.”
Spencer Torkelson hits funny home run
The configuration for the first day of ground balls: Spencer Torkelson at first base, McGonigle at second base, Trey Sweeney at shortstop and both Colt Keith and Hao-Yu Lee at third base, though top infielders Javier Báez, Gleyber Torres and Zach McKinstry weren’t out there.
The real fun began in batting practice.
Torkelson hit an opposite-field home run to right-center field. The ball bounced off the top of the fence, sprang into the air and carried over, drawing a reaction from everyone.
He smiled.
His teammates laughed.
Torkelson had an eventful offseason after blasting 31 home runs in a career-best 2025 season.
“Got married,” he said.
He summarized the Tigers signing Valdez and Verlander by dropping a verbal Tork bomb.
“Those are some dogs,” Torkelson said. “Really happy they’re on our team.”
Will Vest ready in reserve for Team USA
The Tigers have 10 players on the official 30-man World Baseball Classic rosters, headlined by Skubal for Team USA.
A new name has emerged.
Right-handed reliever Will Vest has been listed as part of the designated pitcher pool for Team USA.
Each team can place up to six players on the list as potential pitchers to call up after the four-game pool play, which is the first round of the tournament. Teams can replace up to four pitchers after the first round, then up to two pitchers after the quarterfinal.
The WBC runs from March 5-17.
The other four reserve pitchers for Team USA: left-hander Tim Hill, right-hander Jeff Hoffman, right-hander Tyler Rogers, left-hander Matt Strahm. All five of the reserves are relievers.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold. Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers observations: Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle react to 1st MLB camp
Reporting by Evan Petzold and Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
