Tigers make way for Dillon Dingler ascendance by breaking from catcher tradition

Jake Rogers came back after over a month and a half on the IL on May 20, but the Tigers haven't exactly gone back to business as usual at the backstop. Last year, they were adamant about a Rogers-Carson Kelly duo behind the plate in a co-catching setup rather than a usual primary-backup strategy. They intended much of the same for Rogers and Dillon Dingler this year.

However, Dingler became the Tigers' almost-everyday catcher with Rogers gone from early April into late May, and Tomás Nido was promooted to back him up. The Tigers couldn't have anticipated the offensive breakout that Dingler had in Rogers' absence, but he's one of the best-hitting catchers in the American League by average and slugging, and is Detroit's most valuable position player by fWAR at 2.0 (No. 14 in the AL overall).

The Tigers have adapted accordingly. Rogers has only gotten four starts since his return to Dingler's 10. However, Rogers is taking the change in stride. "We got another great catcher," he said. "It's tough. I'm used to playing a lot, but that's just not my role anymore. I know my role. I'm going to be here for him with whatever he needs, and whenever they want me to play, I'm going to be ready. As long as we're winning, I love it."

Jake Rogers is taking his new backseat role with Tigers gracefully as Dillon Dingler emerges

The change makes a lot of sense on both sides of the ball. Rogers is batting .125 this year and is still waiting on his first homer and his first RBI. He's regressed behind the plate, too; his once-elite blocks above average and framing have dipped down below league average this year.

Meanwhile, Dingler is quite literally baseball's best catcher by blocks above average, and his framing is in Baseball Savant's 90th percentile. His expected batting stats are great, and his chase and whiff rates have improved (even if they're still not great). Dingler basically refuses to walk, but his .295 batting average — the highest of any Tiger who's played in 45+ games — is making up for it.

But Rogers' team-first approach is pretty indicative of Detroit's vibe this year. The Tigers want to promote an as egoless clubhouse as they can get, and Rogers' status as a veteran on a young team sets a very good example for the rest.