Detroit Tigers Weekly Minor League Recap: Dillon Dingler Dingers

Detroit Tigers Minor League Recap – Week 5

West Michigan Whitecaps, 16-13, 1st (+0.5) in High-A Central, East Division

The Whitecaps went just 2-4 last week, and they lost some ugly games, but they managed to stay in first place. They started off the week right, scoring six times in the first inning on Tuesday and holding on for a 7-5 win despite a rough outing from Beau Brieske (1.2 IP, 4H, 3ER, BB, 3K). Rogelio and I attended Wednesday’s ‘Bark at the Park’ game at Dow Diamond, and apart from hearing a few dogs howl along to the national anthem, we managed to get multiple angles of Dillon Dingler’s 6th home run of the year. Wenceel Perez also hit his first home run at the High-A level, but the Loons pulled out a 5-4 win. Dingler went deep again the next night, hitting the massive grand slam you see above, while Spencer Torkelson and Dane Myers added bombs of their own, and Keider Montero (5IP, 4H, 0ER, 2BB, 6K) pitched well in a 12-1 blowout.

Unfortunately, that was the end of the winning for the Whitecaps. Great Lakes scored four times in the 7th on Friday to blow open the game and win 9-4. Saturday’s game was a debacle, with the ‘Caps managing just four hits in an 11-0 thrashing. The Loons made in three in a row on Sunday, scoring three times in the first inning and cruising to an 8-4 victory that spoiled an excellent day for Jose King (1-for-2, HR, 2BB, 2R, 2RBI).

• Dillon Dingler’s massive week had fans buzzing about top-100 prospect status and a promotion to Erie. The first-year backstop won league player of the week honors by going 11-for-22 with four doubles, two home runs, three walks, and eight RBIs.
• At 20, Keider Montero is the youngest pitcher on the Whitecaps by nearly 20 months, and he’s among the youngest pitchers in the league. Perhaps that puts his 6.23 ERA and paltry 9.6% swinging strike rate in better context.
• Dingler’s outstanding performance overshadowed another strong week from Spencer Torkelson, who seems to have shaken off his tough start. The first overall pick went 7-for-21 with four doubles, a home run, and five walks to four strikeouts.