Dillon Dingler reaches deal with Detroit Tigers

Former Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler has reportedly inked a deal with the Detroit Tigers for full slot value.

Former Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler has reportedly reached a deal with the Detroit Tigers. Dingler started the 2020 baseball season with a bang for the Buckeyes — leading the Big Ten in homers with five — before the COVID-19 pandemic prematurely ended his career and the entire college baseball season. He then waited patiently to see what would happen in the 2020 MLB draft.

Dingler was ultimately selected by the Tigers with the first overall pick in the 2nd round (No. 38 overall), but many analysts had him graded out as a first-round selection because of his athleticism and well-above-average arm. He’ll now get a chance to no doubt make a life-long dream come true.

No official financial terms were released, but Jim Callis of mlb.com has reported a full-slot value of $1,952,300.

Dingler appeared in 115 games during his career at Ohio State and posted a batting average of .276, OPS of .809, and slugging percentage of .442. He totaled 12 home runs and 50 RBIs during his three years in Columbus.

Dillon Dingler joins exclusive list of high Buckeye baseball draft picks

With the 38th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers took Ohio State Buckeye catcher Dillon Dingler.

Coming in to 2020, 11 former Ohio State baseball players had been taken in the first two rounds of the MLB Draft. Six Buckeyes had been taken in the first round, and five in the second. None had gone that high since 2010, when Alex Wimmers was taken by the Minnesota Twins in 2010. Of course, the most high-profile Buckeye taken in the draft is almost certainly Nick Swisher, who went No. 16 overall to the Oakland Athletics in 2002. Swisher was already the most high-profile Buckeye in recent decades, and his focus in discussions of Moneyball-style baseball theory has kept him prominent well past his playing career.

Well, on Thursday evening the Buckeyes added a 12th top draft pick to the list, and one who will hope to supplant Swisher as the highest-profile baseball Buckeye. Catcher Dillon Dingler was taken by the Detroit Tigers with the first pick of the second round, 38th overall. (The reason the first pick of the second round was 38th is because the MLB has eight “competitive balance round” picks after the first round. There were only 29 first-round picks due to the penalties received by the Houston Astros for the sign-sealing scandal.)

Dingler hit .276 in his three years at Ohio State, but he was clearly vastly improved as his career went on. In his final COVID-shortened season, Dingler was batting .340 and had ten extra-base hits in his 50 at-bats in 2020. He was listed as the No. 24 prospect according to mlb.com, but fell to No. 38 in the actual draft.

Dingler certainly has high expectations heading into his professional career, but if his Ohio State career is any indication, he definitely has a good chance to live up to them. Not only is it great for him personally, but professional success is great for the program in general. The Buckeyes were well-improved in recent years, but professional success from alumni is key to recruiting better players in the future and generating fan interest.

Pitcher Seth Lonsway was also expected to be a high draft pick, though he had not yet been taken as of the time of this writing (midway through the fifth round). Additionally, high school senior Mac Wainwright (from Lakewood, OH) was taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round. Wainwright is an Ohio State signee, and he will need to decide if he goes straight to the pros or if he starts his career as a Buckeye for at least one year.

Dillon Dingler named third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball

Ohio State baseball’s Dillon Dingler was named a 3rd team All-American by Collegiate Baseball this past week.

The 2020 NCAA baseball season may not have lasted that long, but that didn’t stop some awards and recognition from being handed out. Collegiate Baseball recognized its All-American teams Tuesday, and Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler was named to the third team according to a release from the university.

Dingler becomes the 54th All-American in OSU baseball history. joining Andrew Mango and Dominic Canzone from last season.

In the short season before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down, Dingler was tied with Indiana’s Grant Richardson for the lead in the Big Ten with five home runs. His slugging percentage of .760 was good for second in the conference and 23rd nationally.

For the year, Dingler led Buckeye regulars with a .340 (17-for-50) batting average to go along with a team-high four doubles, a triple, five home runs, 14 RBIs and 12 runs scored. In the Buckeyes’ win at North Florida March 10, Dingler became the first Buckeye in three years to hit three long balls in one game.

It’s too bad we were robbed of watching him play even further in 2020.

 

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Ohio State baseball’s Dillon Dingler included in ESPN’s first-round mock MLB draft

ESPN released its revised 2020 MLB mock draft and has Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler going in the first round.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have brought the sporting world to a screeching halt, but many of the professional leagues are still trying to forge ahead with their respective drafts. Major League Baseball is no different.

In fact, the 2020 MLB Draft is just two weeks away, and it’ll be one of the most unique in the league’s history. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel just released his revised first-round mock draft, and he has Ohio State’s catcher, Dillon Dingler, included.

Ohio State is not normally known for providing a ton of first-round baseball prospects, but he believes Dingler has an enormous upside and attributes that fit one particular organization’s needs.

Here’s what McDaniel says about Dingler, and where he’ll go in the first round.

Next … The scoop on Dillon Dingler

Ohio State baseball beats North Florida 10-2 to guarantee winning Florida trip

The Ohio State baseball team won its third straight game after taking down North Florida 10-2. Dillon Dingler homered three times.

It’s been a good trip to Florida for the Ohio State baseball team. After a shaky start to the season, the Buckeyes lost the first game to Stetson in DeLand Florida. After that though, OSU won the remaining two games there, then headed north today and beat North Florida 10-2 to guarantee a winning trip in the sunshine state. There’s still one to go tomorrow, but Ohio State has suddenly won three games in a row to improve its record to 6-7.

By far the star of the game today was captain and catcher Dillon Dingler. He mashed three home runs and had five RBIs to tally half of the scoring for the scarlet and gray. It’s the first time a Buckeye hit three home runs in one game since Noah McGowan did it at Xavier March 19, 2017.

The big inning that broke it open for Ohio State was a five-run sixth inning that gave OSU an 8-2 lead. There was a solo Dingler homer, but the Buckeyes also got runs on a run-scoring double by Zach Dezenzo, a wild pitch, and a two-run single by Nick Erwin.

Things were almost as equally impressive on the mound for OSU. Sophomore left-hander Mitch Milheim made his first start of the year and limited the Ospreys to just two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work. Freshman right-hander Wyatt Loncar took over for Milheim and struck out three batters in just 2.1 innings of work for his first career win.

The Buckeyes and Ospreys go at again to wrap up the Florida trip at 2:05 PM Wednesday.

 

Ohio State baseball bounces back, smokes Harvard 13-1

The Ohio State baseball team got a big bounce-back win against Harvard Saturday.

The Ohio State baseball team got a much-needed win on Saturday, crushing Harvard 13-1 and will look to win the weekend tomorrow.

It didn’t take long for the Buckeyes to get on the board. Connor Pohl slammed a two-run shot in the bottom of the 1st inning to open the scoring. More runs followed in the 2nd inning for Ohio State when the flood gates opened with five more runs. Nate Karaffa singled home two runs, followed by a two-run double by Dillon Dingler and another RBI single by Brent Todys, and just like that, the Buckeyes opened up a 7-0 advantage after just two innings of play.

Harvard would get its only run of the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning when it doubled home a run to make it 7-1. But this day would belong to the scarlet and gray.

The Buckeyes would plate six more runs with the big blow coming on a two-run homer by Dingler in the top of the 4th inning.

Meanwhile starting pitcher Garrett Burhenn had a career game on the mound. He pitched seven innings of five-hit, one-run ball — setting a career-best in strikeouts with thirteen.

With the win, Ohio State improves its record to 4-7 and will be back in action tomorrow against Fairfield at 7PM.

Ohio State baseball team drops season opener

The Ohio State baseball team dropped its first game of the year Friday to St. Joseph’s.

The Ohio State baseball team broke the seal on the 2020 campaign today, and unfortunately, it wasn’t a winning one, as the Buckeyes dropped a 7-3 decision to St. Joseph’s.

Things started out innocent enough despite Ohio State allowing an unearned run in the top of the second. Dillon Dingler lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to even things up at one apiece. In the top of the 4th inning though, St. Joseph’s got a three-run homer to go up 4-1 after four innings.

From there, both teams plated a few more runs, but Ohio State could never get close enough to put the game in doubt despite a bit of a rally in the bottom of the ninth.

Garrett Burhenn took the loss for Ohio State. He pitched five innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs in his first outing of the year.

The Buckeyes will be back at it again at 6:30 PM Saturday night against Pittsburgh.

Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler named Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by Baseball America

Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler has been named the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by Baseball America.

We’re just a few days away from the start of the Ohio State baseball season. The team is currently in Port Charlotte, Florida practicing and getting ready to break the seal on 2020.

Just before all the fun starts, some of the preseason accolades begin to make their way through the news cycle, and we’ve got a noteworthy one for you. Catcher and team captain Dillon Dingler has been named the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by Baseball America.

The junior was a second-team All-Big Ten player last season and is looking to build on that performance. In two seasons so far in Columbus, he’s totaled 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 62 runs scored, and 36 RBIs.

He hit .291 last year with two triples, three home runs, and 19 RBIs. If the Buckeyes have plans of doing some damage in the Big Ten and making the NCAA Tournament, they’ll need their backstop to be a difference-maker behind the plate, and at the dish with the bat.

Ohio State opens the season Friday, February 14 at 1 PM Eastern against St. Joseph’s.

Matt Carpenter, Dillon Dingler named Ohio State baseball captains for 2020

Ohio State baseball chose its captains for the 2020 season. Both Matt Carpenter and Dillon Dingler will lead the team.

In preparation for the college baseball season that’s set to open up in about three weeks, the Ohio State baseball team has named its 2020 team captains. Both infielder Matt Carpenter and catcher Dillon Dingler were chosen by their teammates last week.

“Both Carp and Ding have the pulse of the locker room,” said coach Greg Beals. “They each have a great feel for the game and they know how to win. Both are well-deserving of their roles as captain.”

Both are upper-classmen. As a fifth-year senior, Carpenter has already appeared in 67 games, including starting 41 one season ago. He batted .257 last year with eight doubles, two triples, 25 runs scored, and 15 RBIs. He is a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Dingler was selected as a captain as a sophomore last year as well. He was named Second-Team All-Big Ten and was named to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team last year. He has appeared in 102 games with 88 total starts. In two seasons, he has accumulated 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 62 runs scored, and 36 RBIs. He is a two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a 2019 Academic-All Big Ten Selection.

The team should be in good hands with this duo leading the team in 2020.