Dillon Dingler

Physical Description: Dingler looks the part of the three-sport athlete he was in high school. He’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, but he appears to have added 10-15 pounds since joining pro ball. He’s built like a typical pro quarterback, and his above-average athleticism is apparent when watching him play.

Hit: 30

Dingler is frustratingly streaky as a hitter. When he’s at his best he’s spraying line drives to all fields, but there are times when it seems as though he can’t see the ball. He struggles with advanced sequencing and will swing through pitches he should drive, leading to multi-strikeout games. He does have a decent eye and has enhanced his on-base skills by being hit frequently, but it’s hard to know if that will continue.

Power: 50

Dingler has legitimate plus raw power, and he can go deep to any part of the field, but it plays more to average because of his contact troubles. Likely more of an extra-base threat than a home run threat at the highest level.

Speed: 45

Dingler is fast for a catcher. He typically gets to first base in about 4.4 seconds, but he’s an average runner underway. He’s fast enough to take extra bases, and he’s a smart base runner, but he’ll likely slow down as he continues to catch. Probably won’t steal more than a handful of bases a year.

Defense: 55

Dingler has all the tools to be a plus defender, but right now he’s closer to average. His athleticism helps him move around behind the plate, but he still lets a few too many balls past him. He understands how to call games, works well with pitchers, and is still developing his framing. His arm is a legitimate plus.

Arm: 60

Dingler’s best tool is his arm. It’s an easy plus thanks to a quick release, plus strength (1.9 pop times to 2nd) and very good accuracy. He knows his arm is a weapon and enjoys back-picking runners at every base.

Overall: Dingler still has the physical tools to be an everyday catcher, and the offensive bar to be a regular backstop is quite low. But his struggles to make consistent contact suggest more of a defense-first backup role on a playoff contender. There’s still upside here if he can find a way to make more consistent contact.