Dillon Dingler has completely blown past his projected offensive numbers this year, absolutely crushing preseason models that just look ridiculous now. This kid, the Tigers’ primary catcher, has already doubled his home run production from a projected 13 to a whopping 26, and he’s just past his estimated game total. Seriously, what a surge!
ZiPS Got Blindsided: Dingler’s Bat is On Fire
MLB.com’s Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru highlighted how ZiPS was totally surprised by Dingler’s homer binge. We’re talking about a 93-point gain on his projected slugging percentage, which is insane. Add that to his defense behind the plate, and this dude is sitting pretty with the fourth-highest fWAR in all of baseball. Think about that: fourth highest overall! And among all the great catchers we’re seeing across the league right now, the Tigers’ guy is straight up the best on offer when it comes to fWAR. This isn’t just some lucky streak either; it’s a full-on takeover behind the dish.
From Undrafted to Unstoppable: How He Did It
Dingler’s journey to becoming a top catcher has been a grind. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, even leading his teams to state championships in both basketball and baseball his senior year. But when he tried to go pro out of high school, he ended up undrafted in the 2017 MLB Draft. That sent him to Ohio State, where he earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors and eventually became a team captain for two years. The Tigers finally snagged him in the second round of the 2020 draft, but he had to grind through the minors, not making his MLB debut until midway through the 2024 season. Last year, he was splitting time behind the plate, but this season? He’s owned it. He’s made real adjustments too, cutting down on chasing elevated fastballs and making hard contact on pitches over the plate. That’s the kind of smart hitting that fuels this kind of breakout.
It’s gonna be wild to see just how many dingers Dillon Dingler finishes with by the end of this season. This kid is absolutely locked in, and he’s proving every projection wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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