Detroit Tigers: Dillon Dingler and Wilmer Flores named to All-Star Futures Game

The Detroit Tigers have their Futures Game reps for 2022.

The rosters for the 2022 MLB All-Star Futures Game have just been announced, and the Detroit Tigers are represented on both the pitching and position player side of things.

Double-A Catcher Dillion Dingler (No. 3 Tigers prospect according to MLB Pipeline) and Double-A pitcher Wilmer Flores (No. 14) have been chosen to represent the Detroit Tigers at this year’s Futures Game in Los Angeles.

Dingler, a second-round pick in 2020 out of Ohio State, appears to have stagnated a bit on the surface in Erie. A slash line of .240/.325/.400 with a .725 OPS isn’t terribly impressive. However, he’s currently in the middle of a nice little hot streak. In his last 10 games, Dingler is slashing .270/.341/.541 with an .882 OPS.

His defense appears to have taken a step back as well. After committing just one error all of last season, he has nine at the halfway point this season. That’s a lot for a catcher at any level. He is throwing out runners at a 34% clip, which is above the MLB league average.

One thing that can’t be denied about Dingler is his athletic ability, which is really nice to have behind the plate. There’s a reason the Buckeyes had him in the outfield his freshman year when he was blocked behind the plate. The Tigers were almost certainly banking on that athletic ability when they drafted him.

Flores has been a revelation this season. He had an ERA of 1.83 in 19.2 innings pitched with High-A West Michigan before being promoted to Double-A Erie on May 17. In 39 innings with the SeaWolves, he’s 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA with 50 strikeouts and eight walks. He has arguably been the fastest riser in Detroit’s farm system this season.

The main thing with Flores right now is whether he’ll be a starter or a reliever at the big league level. His fastball and slider are both plus pitches, but he lacks on effective third pitch. He’s been working on a changeup. Whether or not he’s successful in this endeavor will determine his future role.

Detroit Tigers VP of Player Development Ryan Garko said that it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they are both promoted to Triple-A Toledo by the end of the season.

The 2022 MLB All-Star Futures Game will take place on Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m.