Dillon Dingler’s Pro Success Is No Surprise

Over the last 27 years of his career, Ohio State head baseball coach Greg Beals has perfected the art of identifying talent.

Now and then, a player who come and goes through Columbus finds a way to set himself apart.

When Beals was first introduced to catcher Dillon Dingler during the start of the recruitment process, Dingler immediately made an impression.

“It started with the ability to play the game, and Dillon obviously has the ability to play the game,” Beals said. “But then as I got to meet and know him and his family, I quickly learned that this kid’s got something special.

“For lack of better terms, he’s got some ‘it’ factor.”

The 22-year-old Dingler’s athleticism was no secret.

At Jackson High in Massillon, Ohio, Dingler won a basketball state championship, a baseball state title and was named the football player of the year in his area.

Dingler entered Ohio State behind junior backstop Jacob Barnwell, but as Beals expected, Dingler’s athleticism once again came into the picture.

“We got about a third way into our (2018) season, and we’re like, ‘We’re trying to split time with these two guys,’ ” Beals said. “These were two of our best players, and we’re trying to put the nine best guys out on the field as (much as) possible.

“Dillon played the back half of his freshman year in center field for us. His athleticism allowed me to put the nine best guys on the field that we could.”

Following his selection as the Tigers’ 2020 second-rounder, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Dingler’s impact on both sides of the pall has set in quickly. To Beals, it’s no surprise.

“I think that the Tigers fans are going to be really excited about just the competitor, the guy that he is,” Beals said. “He’s got some tools obviously with the power—he’s got some top-end major league skills—but you’re going to get a great competitor, a locker room guy.”

 

TIGER TALES

— While it took a little while for 2020 first-round pick Spencer Torkelson to find his footing at the plate with High-A West Michigan, the corner infielder broke out with nine hits over his final four games with the Whitecaps, earning a promotion to Double-A Erie on June 14.

— The Tigers aggressively challenged 20-year-old outfielder Riley Greene with an assignment to Double-A Erie. He hit .284/.376/.483 with eight home runs through 45 games.