Tigers Phenom Max Clark Defends Diamond Chains Amid Error Backlash

Detroit Tigers top prospect Max Clark isn’t ditching the diamonds anytime soon -- even after a pair of dropped fly balls had baseball old-heads clutching their pearls.

The 21-year-old outfielder rolled into spring training dripping in four diamond chains, oversized shades and warrior-style eye black as the Tigers took on the Braves on Monday.

Clark -- MLB’s No. 3 overall pick in 2023 -- was making noise … and not just because his jewelry was sparkling in the Florida sun.

Braves TV analyst C.J. Nitkowski couldn’t believe the look, saying there was “no chance” a kid who hadn’t sniffed the big leagues would’ve shown up like that back in his day.

“I don’t care what they have to say, to be completely honest with you,” Clark responded to the Detroit Free Press. “People don’t know me. There’s a lot of people out there that will do anything for some monetary clicks.”

Moments after the criticism, things got wilder.

Clark -- who normally plays center but shifted to left -- dropped two fly balls in the first inning. One popped in front of him in shallow left-center. Another fell near the warning track. Clips hit social media fast … and former big leaguer Jeff Frye piled on, blasting Clark’s style and blaming prospect hype and personal branding.

Clark isn’t sweating the haters.

“I’m sleeping just fine at night,” he fired back … saying critics are chasing clicks and don’t know a thing about him or how he was raised.

He admitted he should’ve caught the balls -- Florida sun or not -- but made it clear the backlash wasn’t really about defense.

“It had nothing to do with the fly ball,” Clark said. “They’re just looking for an image to paint.”

The Indiana native, who still hasn’t been called up above Double-A, made it clear he owns his mistakes. Clark said he bought pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus two bottles of top-shelf rum after the miscues and texted for extra work in left field that same day.

“Obviously, I’m going to get more flack just because of the way I dress,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I know I’m a baller, I know I’m a gamer -- and that’s what everybody else here knows.”

And inside the clubhouse? Zero drama. Manager A.J. Hinch had his back, calling Clark “incredible to be around,” praising his confidence and saying critics are being “incredibly unfair.”

Clark knows the chains will keep people talking, but he’s betting his bat and glove will do the loudest flex.