Most underrated 2025 Tigers player who is on track for a bigger breakout in 2026

When one looks up and down the Detroit Tigers lineup, certain names stand out. Riley Greene was the offensive leader last season. Spencer Torkelson showed signs he could finally be the middle-of-the-order slugger the team had hoped he'd become. Gleyber Torres was a top-of-the-order catalyst.

But somewhat lost in the shuffle was perhaps Detroit's most valuable position player, catcher Dillon Dingler. Obviously, Tigers fans know very well what he brings to the table, but on a larger stage, the backstop gets overlooked.

After taking home a Gold Glove for his work in 2025, many know Dingler is a good defender. But some outside of Detroit might mistake him for one of those glove-first bat-last catchers that litter MLB rosters.

What they might not be aware of is that, after an abbreviated rookie campaign in 2024 when Dingler struggled, he broke out in a big way in 2025. With a 109 wRC+ in addition to his stellar defense, the Ohio State product ranked fourth among big league catchers in fWAR, tallying a 4.1 mark. Only Cal Raleigh and Alejandro Kirk produced more as Dingler tied with Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Will Smith in the rankings.

As good as his season was, the 27-year-old's underlying data shows he could be even better, and that could result in him reaching even greater heights in 2026.

The data shows that Dillon Dingler could be in line for an even bigger 2026 season with the Tigers than his 2025 breakout

The hardware proves that Dingler is a stud defensively, but unlike some catchers, he's no one-trick pony behind the dish. The budding star was a 95th percentile pitch blocker last year, while also cutting down would-be base stealers at an epic rate, ranking in the 85th percentile. It wasn't just the athletic talent either, as his excellent technique placed him in the 91st percentile when it came to pitch framing.

With the bat, Dingler's .278/.327/.425 line was impressive, but the expected stats show that the actual production fell short of what the quality of his contact says he should have yielded for his efforts.

Dingler posted a 45.7% hard-hit rate, which is an above-average mark coming in at the 62nd percentile. His bat path produced excellent angles designed to do damage, recording a 98th percentile launch angle sweet spot percentage.

Those factors led Dingler to post a .290 xBA and a .475 xSLG. The offensive bar is low for a catcher, but those numbers are superb for a player at any position.

If Dingler can repeat that performance, there's a good chance that the performance will level up on its own as his production likely will come closer to the expected numbers. However, if he can solve his greatest offensive deficiency, the ceiling grows even higher.

His 4.9% walk rate came in the ninth percentile, and while it seems like he might just be a free-swinger, his minor league track record says something different. During his time at Toledo in 2024, Dingler posted a 10% walk rate, and for most of his minor league career, he posted double-digit performances. A version of him that can hit like he has while drawing more walks will be dangerous, and the value will be insane once you consider the positional scarcity and defensive excellence.

Fortunately, it looks like the arthroscopic elbow surgery Dingler underwent in January won't cause any major roadblocks. He's already begun logging time at DH and should be back behind the plate soon.

Just as he came out of nowhere last season to establish himself as a building block, Dingler could find another gear in 2026 and become a true superstar. If it comes to pass, it shouldn't be a surprise. The talent is there; it's just a matter of all the pieces falling in place.