The Detroit Tigers are in the offseason and have some work to do as they look to return to postseason play for the first time since 2014. Entering the 2024 season, the Tigers have their clear starting catcher option in Jake Rogers, but their backup, Carson Kelly, has a team option, and it remains to be seen if they will pick that up. If Kelly is not retained, Donny Sands is an option in the minor leagues that could make the team in 2024. Still, the big name that pops out to make his major league debut in 2024 and could make the team out of Spring Training is Dillon Dingler, who had a breakout season in his age 24 seasons playing across three levels at Triple-A Toledo, Double-A Erie, and Single-A Lakeland.
Dillon Dingler By The Numbers
Dingler is the Tigers 11th ranked prospect in their system and was drafted by the Tigers in the second round of the 2020 draft. He started his career out of Ohio State, playing with Single-A, High-A, and Double-A in 2021. In 2022, he played for Double-A Erie, and this year, he spent time across the three levels. He started this season in Single-A and played in just 12 games before being promoted to Double-A Erie, and with Erie, he played in 51 games before he got his last call up to Triple-A, where he played in 26 games. In a total of 89 games in 2023, he slashed .256/.361/.478 with a .839 OPS; he had 22 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 58 RBI, 58 runs scored, six stolen bases, and 42 walks. With Triple-A Toledo, he slashed .202/.266/.384 with a .650 OPS; he had seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, nine RBI, 14 runs scored, and eight walks. He was complimented by some of the Tigers’ top pitching prospects with how he calls a game behind the plate.
Bottom Line: Tigers Future is Bright
The time may be now for Dingler to get his number called back up Jake Rogers in 2024 and be a part of the young core the Detroit Tigers have developed in Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, and Riley Greene. The future is very bright in Detroit with prospects such as Parker Meadows, who made his debut this season, and Colt Keith, who could also debut in 2024.
