After falling into the second round of the MLB draft, Dillon Dingler didn't have to wait long to hear his name called on Thursday night.
The Detroit Tigers selected former Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler with the first pick of the second round (No. 38 overall) of the 2020 MLB draft, making Dingler the earliest Buckeye selected in the draft since the Minnesota Twins selected Alex Wimmers with the No. 21 overall pick in 2010.
With pick No. 38 in the 2020 #MLBDraft, the #Tigers select C Dillon Dingler from the Ohio State University. pic.twitter.com/NLhJDP4Ykt
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 11, 2020
While Dingler's draft wait did last one day longer than expected, as he was projected as a first-round pick in most mock drafts, he still became Ohio State's first top-60 pick in the last decade. The only other Buckeye to be drafted within the top 100 picks in the past 10 years was Ronnie Dawson, who the Houston Astros selected with the No. 61 overall pick in the second round of the 2016 draft.
“I’m really excited for the future and to have the opportunity to put on the Tigers jersey,” Dingler said after being drafted, per an Ohio State news release. “I was very fortunate to have a great baseball program in high school and then loved my time at Ohio State. The athletics program is second to none and has prepared me for this. I’ve been really fortunate to play for Coach Beals and to be a Buckeye.”
Here's what new @Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler said about sliding to the second round:
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) June 11, 2020
"It's a first world problem," he said. "Five years down the road, no one's gonna remember. You just gotta get to work." pic.twitter.com/9tEMfK36Fe
A native of North Canton, Ohio, Dingler started 29 games in centerfield as a freshman for the Buckeyes, then moved to catcher, where he started 57 games over the past two seasons. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019, when he batted .291 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. He led the Buckeyes with a .340 batting average, five home runs and 14 RBIs in just 13 games this spring before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dingler earned third-team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball for his performance during the shortened 2020 season, in which his .760 slugging percentage ranked second in the Big Ten and 23rd among all Division I hitters.
As the first pick of the second round, Dingler is slotted to be paid up to $1,952,300.
Dingler was the only Buckeye selected in this year's draft, which was shortened to five rounds in order to save costs due to the pandemic. Ohio State pitcher Seth Lonsway, who was also expected to hear his name called, went undrafted and could now return to school, as he still has two remaining years of eligibility.
OSU signee Mac Wainwright, an outfielder from Cleveland's St. Edward High School, was drafted in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Reds and will now also have to make a decision whether to play for the Buckeyes or begin his professional baseball career.
