Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
We’re coming toward the end of the MLB Draft Profile series. Next up is an athletic, powerful catcher from the Big 10: Dillon Dingler.
——
Previous Entries
- RHP Bobby Miller, Louisville [May 15]
- OF Daniel Cabrera, LSU [May 18]
- RHP Jared Kelley, Refugio HS (Texas) [May 21]
- RHP Slade Cecconi, Miami(FL) [May 25]
- SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS (Ill.) [May 28]
- SS Jordan Westburg, Mississippi State [May 29]
- RHP Clayton Beeter, Texas Tech [June 1]
- C/3B/OF Tyler Soderstrom, Turlock HS (Calif.) [June 2]
- RHP Bryce Jarvis, Duke [June 4]
- RHP Chris McMahon, Miami (FL) [June 7]
——
Vitals
6’3, 210 pounds
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right
Throw: Right
DOB: Sept. 17, 1998
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Year: Junior
Rankings
The Athletic: 20
Baseball America: 27
CBS MLB: 47
ESPN: 17
FanGraphs: 29
MLB Pipeline: 24
Perfect Game: 17
Slot recommended bonus (No. 29): $2,424,600
Note: All information of draft prospects compiled from Internet sources, scouting reports and videos.
——
It isn’t often an MLB Draft catching prospect had spent significant time in center field during his collegiate career, but Dingler has done just that. He played center field and catcher in his freshman year. I’m not sure he can handle center field in the majors, but the fact he is athletic enough to do so in college could give him some defensive versatility in the pros. But behind the plate, Dingler is a premium prospect. He has a nearly double-plus arm and, despite the larger frame, is pretty agile behind the dish. He has a little work to do when it comes to receiving, but the profile of an above-average backstop is there. And he has above-average speed — not “just for a catcher.”
With the bat, Dingler has impressive raw power that could lead to 20-home run power. While his hit tool is a bit in question due to inconsistency, he is able to work the count and draw walks. His plate discipline is among the best of any college hitter available in this year’s draft. The offensive profile sounds a lot like Yasmani Grandal, minus the switch hitting.
Video
Videos courtesy of 2080 Baseball and Prospects Live.
As a junior, he’ll have a little leverage, but how many 1st-round Ohio State University baseball players can you name? He’s probably not going to improve his draft stock much more than this if he opts to go back to school, so he should be a slot-signing. There’s a good chance he doesn’t make it to the Dodgers’ selection at 29 and some think he could even come off the board before Patrick Bailey, the consensus top catching prospect in the draft. Dingler has 1st-division upside, with the added bonus of being able to play the outfield.
