Meanwhile, the Tigers may need to reassess Max Clark's readiness
By Scott White Apr 29, 2026 at 12:19 pm ET • 8 min read 
Javier Baez was carted off the field Tuesday with what looks to be a long-term injury. So ... is it Max Clark o'clock?
I'll admit my mind went there, too, but then I saw the 21-year-old trending on X for a far less hopeful reason:
Columbus ties Toledo when Max Clark drops a seemingly routine fly ball with the bases loaded. pic.twitter.com/JZKnGNs2Lw
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 29, 2026
Absent all other context, I could write off the misplay as just an embarrassing moment that could happen to any player. But I have the context of manager A.J. Hinch's comment the last time the Tigers lost an outfielder to serious injury, specifically Parker Meadows two weeks ago.
"We've been very consistent that he needs more time to continue his development," Hinch said, referring to Clark.
Would he stress how consistent he's been on a matter only to abandon that matter two weeks later, even when the established criterion (continued development) isn't in evidence? Clark is 4 for 30 (.133) in his past 8 games. He's dropping easy fly balls. He's not ready!
Well ... he might be ready. He's slashing .303/.377 /.444 at the highest level with nearly as many walks (13) as strikeouts (15). He's lacking in home runs but has solid exit velocities, is an opportunistic baserunner, and is generally regarded as a good defender, despite Tuesday's blunder. I'm personally not commenting on Clark's readiness but simply pointing out that if the Tigers thought he wasn't ready two weeks ago -- insisted on it, even -- nothing that he's done since should have changed their mind.
They have other options. I'm guessing they'll go with them. So for now, I'm leaving Clark out of my ...
FIVE ON THE VERGE
(Here are the prospects most worth stashing in redraft leagues.)
Noelvi Marte, OF, Reds
2025 majors: .263 BA (339 AB), 14 HR, 10 SB, .748 OPS, 16 BB, 85 K 2026 majors: .138 BA (29 AB), 0 HR, 1 SB, .331 OPS, 2 BB, 10 K 2026 minors: .467 BA (45 AB), 2 HR, 7 SB, 1.231 OPS, 5 BB, 8 K
OK, so I know Noelvi Marte isn't a prospect. He hasn't been for a couple years, actually. But he's a former prospect back in the minors at age 24, which suggests that his best days are still ahead of him. And he's absolutely killing it right now. You see the numbers above. He's batting nearly .500 in nearly 50 at-bats. His average exit velocity is over 92 mph. He's 7 for 7 on stolen base attempts. He's also shaved about 20 points off his chase rate, as compared to the majors. He's clearly too good for Triple-A.
Of course, the former third baseman was sent down in part because he was struggling at the plate, but it was no secret that the Reds weren't thrilled with his play in right field. Notably, he's been getting reps in center field at Triple-A, which some have theorized makes for an easier transition for infielders than right field because the angles off the bat aren't as tricky. The Reds have struggled to fill their third outfield spot without Marte, so we could see him back in the majors in short order. No actual prospect projects for the sort of immediate impact he could have if he gets another shot.
Bryce Eldridge, DH, Giants
2025 minors: .260 BA (384 AB), 25 HR, .843 OPS, 42 BB, 127 K 2025 majors: .107 BA (28 AB), 2 2B, .476 OPS, 7 BB, 13 K 2026 minors: .303 BA (99 AB), 3 HR, 6 2B, .860 OPS, 14 BB, 36 K
Nothing much has changed here in the past week. Bryce Eldridge continues to strike out too much at Triple-A and hasn't been homering at a rate that would allow the front office to look past it. Casey Schmitt's surprising production hasn't helped matters, but I think the Giants would be happy to shift him to a super utility role if Eldridge were forcing the issue. A sustained hot streak would probably be enough to earn him the call.
Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks
2025 minors: .289 BA (484 AB), 18 HR, 29 SB, .892 OPS, 96 BB, 106 K 2026 minors: .303 BA (109 AB), 3 HR, 4 SB, .905 OPS, 15 BB, 33 K
I can't say I've heard actual rumblings about a Ryan Waldschmidt promotion, but it's doubtful the Diamondbacks would have had him begin the year at Triple-A if they intended to slow-play him. He's immediately taken to the minor leagues' highest level, collecting 13 extra-base hits in just 28 games while reaching base at a .400 clip. His comically low chase rate (13.6 percent) reveals a true mastery of the strike zone, and his exit velocities suggest that his power production is legit. I don't know what more the Diamondbacks could possibly need to see from Alek Thomas, who plays the same position, so I'm hopeful that a change is forthcoming.
Robby Snelling, SP, Marlins
2025 minors: 9-7, 2.51 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 136 IP, 39 BB, 166 K 2026 minors: 2-1, 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 24 IP, 14 BB, 35 K
Robby Snelling followed up his best start of the season with possibly his worst Friday. Sure, he allowed just two runs on two hits, but he also walked five, giving him 5.3 BB/9 for the season. That's a pretty terrible ratio, but it's not even the worst one I could point to. Snelling had just five whiffs in Friday's contest to give him a swinging-strike rate of 9.4 percent. For comparison, it was 13.6 percent last year. How do I reconcile such poor swing-and-miss numbers with his 13.1 K/9? Look, strikeouts are good no matter how they come about, but the question of legitimacy is worth raising. Ultimately, I still think Snelling is the top minor league pitcher to stash, but I'm not saying it with great gusto.
Charlie Condon, 1B, Rockies
2025 minors: .268 BA (365 AB), 14 HR, .820 OPS, 52 BB, 112 K 2026 minors: .269 BA (78 AB), 4 HR, 3 SB, .872 OPS, 17 BB, 19 K
Charlie Condon's batting average has taken a hit over the past week, but his Prospect Savant page is still lit up in red, with all the major indicators rating in the 75th percentile or better. In particular, he's impacting the ball like a genuine slugger and spitting on pitches outside the zone. The biggest reason he's still sneaking into my Five on the Verge, though, is that three of the players blocking him in the Rockies lineup have tenuous grasps on their roles. TJ Rumfield, Troy Johnston and Edouard Julien are all more like reclamation (vanity?) projects than foundational building blocks, and while they've managed to hold their own so far, any slippage would make them easily discardable for Condon.
FIVE ON THE PERIPHERY
(Here are some other prospects doing something of note.)
A.J. Ewing, OF, Mets
2025 minors: .315 BA (485 AB), 3 HR, 70 SB, .830 OPS, 68 BB, 105 K 2026 minors: .373 BA (67 AB), 2 HR, 12 SB, 1.127 OPS, 18 BB, 15 K
The Mets don't have an opening in their outfield right now, but A.J. Ewing is positioning himself to claim it whenever they do. The latest development is him going 3 for 4 with a triple, a double, and a walk in his Triple-A debut Tuesday. His swing is perfectly tailored for batting average, and with enough juice to make it stand up. Factor in his plus plate discipline, and he's a player who could threaten to reach base at a 40 percent clip. Remember Xavier Edwards' rookie season? That's what Ewing could be on the regular, only with a realistic shot of delivering double-digit home runs as well.
Caleb Bonemer, SS, White Sox
2025 minors: .281 BA (385 AB), 12 HR, 29 SB, .874 OPS, 75 BB, 101 K 2026 minors: .291 BA (79 AB), 10 HR, 1 SB, 1.178 OPS, 10 BB, 27 K
If you had any lingering doubts about the breakthrough season that propelled Caleb Bonemer to top-50 prospect status entering this year, you should probably put them to rest now. He was already dominating in his return trip to High-A, and then he had a three-homer game Tuesday.
Caleb Bonemer is the goods y'all. 3 HR game, to tie it up at 6. #Dash pic.twitter.com/nNUwMTB2t3
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) April 29, 2026
He's nearly matched last year's home run total in about 300 fewer at-bats, and it's no mystery why. For the second straight year, his fly-ball and pull rates are among the highest you'll ever see, revealing a swing that's perfectly attuned for home runs. These aren't the gimmicky Isaac Paredes kind either. So many of Bonemer's pulled fly balls are absolute missiles. Forget top 50. He may have his sights on the top 10.
Tyler Bremner, SP, Angels
2026 minors: 0-0, 1.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 16 2/3 IP, 5 BB, 25 K
Two weeks ago, I highlighted the best college pitcher from last year's draft, Kade Anderson. Last week, it was the top prep pitcher, Seth Hernandez. How about the first pitcher who was actually picked in the draft? That would be Tyler Bremner, who the Angels selected second overall. His professional debut has gone about as well as those other two, highlighted by his 25 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings. His arsenal isn't as fleshed out, featuring mainly just a fastball and changeup, which is part of the reason why scouts aren't as high on him. Both pitches are best-in-their-class-type offerings, though. particularly the changeup. Given how aggressively the Angels tend to promote their prospects, Bremner should make the move up to Double-A soon.
Franklin Arias, SS, Red Sox
2025 minors: .278 BA (479 AB), 8 HR, 12 SB, .723 OPS, 38 BB, 53 K 2026 minors: .407 BA (59 AB), 7 HR, 2 SB, 1.301 OPS, 5 BB, 7 K
Franklin Arias got plenty of love in preseason rank lists, even though he slugged just .388 last year. He had reached Double-A as a 19-year-old, after all, while maintaining a strikeout rate of just 10 percent. Clearly, he had some tools to work with. The question was whether he'd develop enough power to be a true impact bat, and, well, I think we have our answer. A spike in exit velocity has contributed to seven home runs already, and his strikeout rate has somehow gotten even better. If anything, the preseason rank lists may have had Arias too low.
Anthony Eyanson, SP, Red Sox
2026 minors: 0.54 ERA, 0.36 WHIP, 16 2/3 IP, 0 BB, 27 K
A third-round pick last year, Anthony Eyanson worked to add velocity this offseason and is now scraping triple digits with his fastball. He has a well-developed secondary arsenal that includes a slider and splitter, but it's the curveball that really has people talking.
Anthony Eyanson's first four starts have been pure excellence. 16.1 Innings 6 H 1 ER 0 BB 27 K (48.2%) 0.54 ERA 0.36 WHIP .109 BAA#DirtyWaterpic.twitter.com/5fH52VU63K
— The Toolshed Podcast (@ToolshedPod) April 28, 2026
It's all added up to 27 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings to go along with a 24 percent swinging-strike rate, which is about 50 percent beyond great. The most impressive part of all, though, is that he has yet to issue a walk, which shouldn't be possible for a pitcher with stuff this good. Eyanson will soon join John Holobetz, who was featured here last week, at Double-A. That's right, Red Sox fans, your team seems to have a good grasp on pitching development, if nothing else.
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