Press release
MAX CLARK NAMED 2022-23 GATORADE NATIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FRANKLIN, Ind., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 38th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Max Clark of
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[{"type":"text","content":"FRANKLIN, Ind., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 38th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Max Clark of Franklin Community High School in Franklin, Ind. is the 2022-23 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. Clark won the prestigious award for his accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Baseball Players of the Year who have combined for more than four MLB MVP awards, 42 All-Star appearances and 27 MLB first round draft picks. \nClark was surprised with the trophy by his family, coaches and teammates at school. Check out a video of the announcement here.\nThe Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes athletes not just for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and impact in their community. Clark beat out nearly half a million other student-athletes who play baseball nationwide, topping the list of state winners in baseball who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 39 with signed National Letters of Intent to play baseball at Division I colleges/universities and 35 with a GPA of 3.5 and above. \n\"Max Clark is another standout in the fine tradition of past Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honorees,\" said Jim Callis, senior writer for MLB Pipeline. \"He might well be the best all-around player in this year's draft as a center fielder with four tools that grade as at least 'plus' to go with developing power. He's starred both in the Indiana high school ranks and also on the international stage with Team USA.\"\nThe 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior center fielder batted .646 with six home runs, 33 RBI and 45 runs scored this past season, leading the Grizzly Cubs (14-14-1) to the Class 4A sectional semifinals. Clark is the nation's No. 1 draft prospect in the Class of 2023 as rated by Prep Baseball Report and he's also the state's two-time returning Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. In addition to an .808 on-base percentage and a 1.215 slugging percentage, he also stole 35 bases and made just two errors in the outfield this spring.\nA basketball and football standout and member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, for which he has served as president, Clark has volunteered locally on behalf of his church youth group and has donat...