​The Detroit Tigers have narrowly avoided a major injury blow ahead of the All-Star break, with catcher Dillon Dingler listed as day-to-day due to a right hand contusion, according to Tigers manager A.J. Hinch on Thursday, July 9. Dingler left Wednesday’s game in the second inning during a 6-1 victory over the Athletics after a foul ball off Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson struck the top of his right hand. He remained in the game at catcher for the remainder of the inning but was replaced by backup Jake Rogers in the bottom of the second inning.
Hinch noted that initial tests taken after Wednesday’s contest were negative, but Dingler would undergo additional testing on Thursday to monitor the injury. “I’m encouraged with the news that we got,” Hinch said on Thursday.
Dingler, who recently earned his first All-Star selection, has emerged as Detroit’s standout performer this season. He leads FanGraphs’ WAR for the Tigers at 3.9 and has already set career highs with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs. Statcast shows him in the 97th percentile among all MLB players in Fielding Run Value, underscoring his dual impact with both his bat and his defense. As the reigning Gold Glove winner, Dingler has been a key contributor on both sides of the field.
Hinch admitted he isn’t sure how the hand injury might affect Dingler’s participation in the All-Star Game. Through Thursday’s game against the Athletics, Dingler had appeared in 85 of Detroit’s 92 games, starting 68 as a catcher and 17 as a designated hitter. He leads all qualified catchers in FanGraphs WAR, RBIs, and wRC+ (131), and has become Detroit’s most productive right-handed bat in 2026.
This is developing news and will be updated as more information becomes available. For readers seeking more timely Detroit sports updates, consider subscribing to our Sports Briefing newsletter for daily summaries. You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com. This report originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler to avoid injured list after hurting hand.