Dillon Dingler

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Catching is a brutal occupation. Dingler is a prime example. Drafted in the second round in 2020, he has missed time as a pro with a broken hamate bone, a broken finger and a knee injury. Knee surgery kept Dingler from reaching Double-A Erie until early May in 2023, but he then lit up the Eastern League. He was promoted to Triple-A Toledo in mid August and added to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler’s defense and power give him a clear path to a backup catcher role, but his lack of bat speed could make it tough for him to be a regular. His defense is major league-caliber. Like most young catchers, Dingler can improve at game-calling, but he’s an above-average receiver and framer, he blocks well and he has a plus arm with a quick transfer and above-average accuracy. He threw out 50% of basestealers after his promotion to Triple-A and has thrown out 34% for his minor league career. Offensively, there are many more concerns. Dingler has plus raw power, but he has to hunt pitches to get to that power in games, which leaves him vulnerable to being fooled. A lack of bat speed, shaky swing decisions and high strikeout rates make him a well below-average hitter. He runs well for a catcher.
  
  The Future: Dingler’s strengths and weaknesses are quite similar to those of Tigers starting catcher Jake Rogers, and their minor league careers are uncannily similar. Rogers struggled in his first stint with Double-A Erie but dominated in a return to the league before struggling after a promotion to Triple-A. Rogers hit .242/.338/.441 in 1,392 minor league plate appearances. Dingler struggled at Double-A in 2022 but lit up the league in his return. He then struggled after a midseason promotion to Triple-A. He enters 2024 as a .244/.335/.434 career hitter in 1,190 PAs.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Dingler was viewed as arguably the best defensive catcher in the 2020 draft, and the Tigers took him in the second round and signed him for slightly over slot value at $1,952,300. Dingler reported to the Tigers' alternate training site shortly after and made his professional debut in 2021. His success with High-A West Michigan--he slashed .287/.376/.549--led to a promotion to Double-A Erie before he suffered a fractured finger. A return to Erie in 2022 presented Dingler the opportunity to represent the Tigers in the Futures Game. After the season he headed to the Arizona Fall League, but knee soreness forced the Tigers to shut him down for the year after just four games.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler features a physical, well-proportioned frame, with advanced athleticism on both sides of the ball. Boasting plus speed, he has cat-like reflexes behind the plate. Despite still learning the nuances of his defensive position, Dingler has shown consistent improvement in both receiving and framing. His nearly plus-plus arm holds opposing running games to in check. With his defense-first profile, Dingler has worked to polish his offensive feel and get more consistent with tapping into his raw power on contact. There is a still a great deal of swing-and-miss to the tune of nearly a 30% strikeout rate over the last two seasons. Dingler projects as a well below-average hitter--his career minor league batting average is .238--but with average power.
  
  The Future: With a mostly healthy 2022 in the rear-view, the 2023 season is going to be key in Dingler's work to prove potential longevity. He should begin the year with Triple-A Toledo. His health will decide how quickly he'll see his MLB debut.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 30. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Dingler played both catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving behind the plate full-time as a sophomore. His athleticism helped make him arguably the best defensive catcher in the 2020 draft class, and the Tigers drafted him 38th overall and signed him for $1,952,300, Dingler reported to the Tigers alternate training site after signing and made his pro debut in 2021. He quickly hit his way up to Double-A Erie, but he suffered a fractured finger tip on his left hand in early August when he got crossed up on a sign and finished the year slowly.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler has a physical, well-proportioned frame and is a good athlete on both sides of the ball. He is a plus runner, rare for a catcher, and has cat-like reflexes behind the plate. He is relatively new to the position and is still learning it, but he has consistently improved both his framing and receiving with experience and projects to be an above-average defender. His best asset is his near plus-plus arm that shuts down the running game. While Dingler’s defense outshines his offense, he has increasingly learned to tap into his above-average raw power and does damage when he connects. He swings and misses too much to be more than an average hitter, but he projects to hit enough for a catcher.
  
  The Future: Dingler is fully recovered from his finger injury and will be ready for spring training. He is the Tigers’ catcher of the future and will be an asset behind the plate for their talented young pitchers.
  
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #7 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Dingler split his time between catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving to catcher full-time as a sophomore. He impressed with his athleticism and natural catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and became a top draft prospect as a junior. Dingler tied for the Big Ten Conference lead with five home runs in 13 games before the season shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Tigers drafted him in the second round and signed him for $1,952,300.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Dingler has a strong, durable frame to handle the grind of catching and is more athletic than most catchers his size. He’s a natural leader who was a Buckeye steam captain and his receiving and framing are continuously improving. Dingler threw out 50 percent of runners in college with his nearly plus-plus arm strength and shuts down running games. Dingler is less prolific offensively, but he controls the strike zone and knows how to work a count. His power surge occurred after he recovered from a broken hamate bone, but scouts mostly regard him as an ambush hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Dingler needs to continue to refine his receiving and develop as a hitter but is the favorite to become the Tigers’ catcher of the future.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #27 prospect in 2020 draft
  Dingler has been a regular in Ohio State’s lineup since he first set foot on campus in Columbus. As a freshman he showed impressive defensive versatility at two premium positions, playing both catcher and center field. He settled in as the team’s starting catcher during his sophomore season, and scouts believe in his catch-and-throw skills and athleticism behind the plate. A natural leader and a captain for the Buckeyes, Dingler has big league arm strength, and over 115 total games with Ohio State threw out 21 of the 42 (50 percent) runners who attempted to steal against him. He has a strong, 6-foot-3, 222-pound frame that would be durable enough to handle the grind of the position, and he’s more athletic than most backstops with that sort of size. Offensively, Dingler was just starting to tap into his potential, improving year over year. He improved his OPS from .701 as a freshman to .816 as a sophomore. His numbers might have been even louder if he didn't miss some time early in the season due to a broken hamate that could have sapped some of his power even after returning to the field. Through 10 games in 2020 upped that mark to 1.164 with five home runs, a triple and four doubles through 35 at-bats. Dingler has always controlled the strike zone well throughout his Big 10 career (12.8 strikeout percentage, 11.6 walk percentage) but never really showed the ability to tap into his above-average raw power consistently in games. Some scouts believe he’s more of an ambush power hitter, who ran into his homers, and now without a full junior season to see if that is true, they’ll have to guess. With a strong offensive 2020 season, Dingler had the potential to go in the first two rounds and his everyday potential and big arm could keep him in that range even with a shortened season.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Dingler was viewed as arguably the best defensive catcher in the 2020 draft, and the Tigers took him in the second round and signed him for slightly over slot value at $1,952,300. Dingler reported to the Tigers' alternate training site shortly after and made his professional debut in 2021. His success with High-A West Michigan--he slashed .287/.376/.549--led to a promotion to Double-A Erie before he suffered a fractured finger. A return to Erie in 2022 presented Dingler the opportunity to represent the Tigers in the Futures Game. After the season he headed to the Arizona Fall League, but knee soreness forced the Tigers to shut him down for the year after just four games.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler features a physical, well-proportioned frame, with advanced athleticism on both sides of the ball. Boasting plus speed, he has cat-like reflexes behind the plate. Despite still learning the nuances of his defensive position, Dingler has shown consistent improvement in both receiving and framing. His nearly plus-plus arm holds opposing running games to in check. With his defense-first profile, Dingler has worked to polish his offensive feel and get more consistent with tapping into his raw power on contact. There is a still a great deal of swing-and-miss to the tune of nearly a 30% strikeout rate over the last two seasons. Dingler projects as a well below-average hitter--his career minor league batting average is .238--but with average power.
  
  The Future: With a mostly healthy 2022 in the rear-view, the 2023 season is going to be key in Dingler's work to prove potential longevity. He should begin the year with Triple-A Toledo. His health will decide how quickly he'll see his MLB debut.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 30. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Dingler was viewed as arguably the best defensive catcher in the 2020 draft, and the Tigers took him in the second round and signed him for slightly over slot value at $1,952,300. Dingler reported to the Tigers' alternate training site shortly after and made his professional debut in 2021. His success with High-A West Michigan--he slashed .287/.376/.549--led to a promotion to Double-A Erie before he suffered a fractured finger. A return to Erie in 2022 presented Dingler the opportunity to represent the Tigers in the Futures Game. After the season he headed to the Arizona Fall League, but knee soreness forced the Tigers to shut him down for the year after just four games.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler features a physical, well-proportioned frame, with advanced athleticism on both sides of the ball. Boasting plus speed, he has cat-like reflexes behind the plate. Despite still learning the nuances of his defensive position, Dingler has shown consistent improvement in both receiving and framing. His nearly plus-plus arm holds opposing running games to in check. With his defense-first profile, Dingler has worked to polish his offensive feel and get more consistent with tapping into his raw power on contact. There is a still a great deal of swing-and-miss to the tune of nearly a 30% strikeout rate over the last two seasons. Dingler projects as a well below-average hitter--his career minor league batting average is .238--but with average power.
  
  The Future: With a mostly healthy 2022 in the rear-view, the 2023 season is going to be key in Dingler's work to prove potential longevity. He should begin the year with Triple-A Toledo. His health will decide how quickly he'll see his MLB debut.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 30. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Dingler played both catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving behind the plate full-time as a sophomore. His athleticism helped make him arguably the best defensive catcher in the 2020 draft class, and the Tigers drafted him 38th overall and signed him for $1,952,300, Dingler reported to the Tigers alternate training site after signing and made his pro debut in 2021. He quickly hit his way up to Double-A Erie, but he suffered a fractured finger tip on his left hand in early August when he got crossed up on a sign and finished the year slowly.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler has a physical, well-proportioned frame and is a good athlete on both sides of the ball. He is a plus runner, rare for a catcher, and has cat-like reflexes behind the plate. He is relatively new to the position and is still learning it, but he has consistently improved both his framing and receiving with experience and projects to be an above-average defender. His best asset is his near plus-plus arm that shuts down the running game. While Dingler&#39s defense outshines his offense, he has increasingly learned to tap into his above-average raw power and does damage when he connects. He swings and misses too much to be more than an average hitter, but he projects to hit enough for a catcher.
  
  The Future: Dingler is fully recovered from his finger injury and will be ready for spring training. He is the Tigers&#39 catcher of the future and will be an asset behind the plate for their talented young pitchers.
  
  Scouting Grades:Hit: 45. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 70.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Dingler played both catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving behind the plate full-time as a sophomore. His athleticism helped make him arguably the best defensive catcher in the 2020 draft class, and the Tigers drafted him 38th overall and signed him for $1,952,300, Dingler reported to the Tigers alternate training site after signing and made his pro debut in 2021. He quickly hit his way up to Double-A Erie, but he suffered a fractured finger tip on his left hand in early August when he got crossed up on a sign and finished the year slowly.
  
  Scouting Report: Dingler has a physical, well-proportioned frame and is a good athlete on both sides of the ball. He is a plus runner, rare for a catcher, and has cat-like reflexes behind the plate. He is relatively new to the position and is still learning it, but he has consistently improved both his framing and receiving with experience and projects to be an above-average defender. His best asset is his near plus-plus arm that shuts down the running game. While Dingler’s defense outshines his offense, he has increasingly learned to tap into his above-average raw power and does damage when he connects. He swings and misses too much to be more than an average hitter, but he projects to hit enough for a catcher.
  
  The Future: Dingler is fully recovered from his finger injury and will be ready for spring training. He is the Tigers’ catcher of the future and will be an asset behind the plate for their talented young pitchers.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Dingler split his time between catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving catcher as a sophomore. He impressed with his athleticism and natural catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and became a top draft prospect as a junior. Dingler tied for the Big Ten Conference lead with five home runs in 13 games before the season shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Tigers drafted him in the second round and signed him for $1,952,300.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Dingler has a strong, durable frame to handle the grind of catching and is more athletic than most catchers his size. He's a natural leader who was a Buckeye steam captain and his receiving and framing are continuously improving. Dingler threw out 50 percent of runners in college with his nearly plus-plus arm strength and shuts down running games. Dingler is less prolific offensively, but he controls the strike zone and knows how to work a count. His power surge occurred after he recovered from a broken hamate bone, but scouts mostly regard him as an ambush hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Dingler needs to continue to refine his receiving and develop as a hitter but is the favorite to become the Tigers' catcher of the future.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Dingler split his time between catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving catcher as a sophomore. He impressed with his athleticism and natural catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and became a top draft prospect as a junior. Dingler tied for the Big Ten Conference lead with five home runs in 13 games before the season shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Tigers drafted him in the second round and signed him for $1,952,300.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Dingler has a strong, durable frame to handle the grind of catching and is more athletic than most catchers his size. He’s a natural leader who was a Buckeye steam captain and his receiving and framing are continuously improving. Dingler threw out 50 percent of runners in college with his nearly plus-plus arm strength and shuts down running games. Dingler is less prolific offensively, but he controls the strike zone and knows how to work a count. His power surge occurred after he recovered from a broken hamate bone, but scouts mostly regard him as an ambush hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Dingler needs to continue to refine his receiving and develop as a hitter but is the favorite to become the Tigers’ catcher of the future.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 65.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Dingler split his time between catcher and center field his freshman year at Ohio State before moving to catcher full-time as a sophomore. He impressed with his athleticism and natural catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and became a top draft prospect as a junior. Dingler tied for the Big Ten Conference lead with five home runs in 13 games before the season shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Tigers drafted him in the second round and signed him for $1,952,300.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Dingler has a strong, durable frame to handle the grind of catching and is more athletic than most catchers his size. He’s a natural leader who was a Buckeye steam captain and his receiving and framing are continuously improving. Dingler threw out 50 percent of runners in college with his nearly plus-plus arm strength and shuts down running games. Dingler is less prolific offensively, but he controls the strike zone and knows how to work a count. His power surge occurred after he recovered from a broken hamate bone, but scouts mostly regard him as an ambush hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Dingler needs to continue to refine his receiving and develop as a hitter but is the favorite to become the Tigers’ catcher of the future.
• December, 2019 Scouting Report
  Dingler has been a regular in Ohio State’s lineup since he first set foot on campus in Columbus. As a freshman he showed impressive defensive versatility at two premium positions, playing both catcher and center field. He settled in as the team’s starting catcher during his sophomore season, and scouts believe in his catch-and-throw skills and athleticism behind the plate. A natural leader and a captain for the Buckeyes, Dingler has big league arm strength, and over 115 total games with Ohio State threw out 21 of the 42 (50 percent) runners who attempted to steal against him. He has a strong, 6-foot-3, 222-pound frame that would be durable enough to handle the grind of the position, and he’s more athletic than most backstops with that sort of size. Offensively, Dingler was just starting to tap into his potential, improving year over year. He improved his OPS from .701 as a freshman to .816 as a sophomore. His numbers might have been even louder if he didn't miss some time early in the season due to a broken hamate that could have sapped some of his power even after returning to the field. Through 10 games in 2020 upped that mark to 1.164 with five home runs, a triple and four doubles through 35 at-bats. Dingler has always controlled the strike zone well throughout his Big 10 career (12.8 strikeout percentage, 11.6 walk percentage) but never really showed the ability to tap into his above-average raw power consistently in games. Some scouts believe he’s more of an ambush power hitter, who ran into his homers, and now without a full junior season to see if that is true, they’ll have to guess. With a strong offensive 2020 season, Dingler had the potential to go in the first two rounds and his everyday potential and big arm could keep him in that range even with a shortened season.