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The 2023 draft saw the Tigers pass on him, but he is now starting for the reigning World Series champions.

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers had a visit this week from a player they passed on drafting nine months ago. Now, he’s hitting in the cleanup spot for the reigning World Series champions.

Instead of choosing Wyatt Langford, the Tigers opted for outfielder Max Clark, who is three years younger and was recently struggling to maintain a .200 batting average in low-level Class A.

For those inclined to make quick judgements, it might seem like the Tigers made a misstep and the Texas Rangers reaped the benefits. However, snap judgements seldom do justice when it comes to evaluating baseball drafts, which often require years to accurately assess success and failure.

This quick assessment isn’t entirely fair to either player. Langford, aged 22, is undoubtedly a promising prospect but is experiencing the expected learning curve in the majors. He recently went 2-for-11 with four strikeouts in Detroit and is still chasing his first major league home run after 81 plate appearances.

On the other hand, Clark, at just 19, has shown improvement by going 8-for-20 in his last five games after a slow start.

For a more accurate evaluation of both players, it’s wise to check back in a few months to see how they are progressing.

The decision to select Clark came under the leadership of new president Scott Harris, but it was former general manager Al Avila who oversaw the 2021 draft, picking high school pitcher Jackson Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick over shortstops Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawlar, who were higher rated by some analysts.

A year ago, it appeared the worst-case scenario was unfolding as Mayer and Lawlar emerged as top prospects while Jobe struggled. Yet, today, Jobe is considered one of baseball’s premier pitching prospects.

Lawlar had a shaky debut in 2023 and is currently sidelined with an injury, while Mayer’s trajectory now seems similar to Jobe’s. They could intersect in Double-A, Triple-A, or even the majors this summer.

Determining the success of a draft pick or class takes time, sometimes more than eight or nine months, and in some cases, even eight or nine years. Just look at Matt Manning, selected by the Tigers with the No. 9 overall pick in 2016.