The Detroit Tigers have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Tarik Skubal. He's been a dominant force the last two years, and after winning the AL Cy Young in 2024, he's tracking to win it again in 2025.
But part of every great pitcher comes with a good catcher. From calling pitches to helping the pitcher out in any way they can, whether it's wild pitches, foul tips, or catching would-be base-stealers, a catcher is integral to a pitcher's success.
In a piece from Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler revealed what it's like catching for Skubal. Amid the interview, Dingler shared what his first impression of Skubal was like.
"Last year," Dingler said, "when I got up and was able to see his starts. I was watching him from the dugout. The movement, the intensity, him firing up the crowd after getting out of a big spot or finishing an outing. It's a lot of emotion. It's hard to do. I'm not sure I could do it. But he's the best at it."
It's high praise from Dingler on Skubal. But it's not just about his dominance on the mound; it's about the presence he is when he's pitching. Bringing the emotion, getting the crowd pumped, and contributing beyond his pitches on the mound isn't easy.
Dingler believes Skubal is the best at it, and based on his contributions over the last few years, it's not a major surprise that Skubal's presence on the mound extends past his dominance of hitters.
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But, before Dingler experienced it as Skubal's catcher, he did so from the dugout when he was called up in 2024. He made his Tigers debut in the later stages of the 2024 season, playing in just 27 games for the Tigers.
He wasn't the best, hitting just .167 with a .505 OPS. But in 2025, he's been amazing. He has a .272 batting average and a .746 OPS in 94 games, significantly better than his 2024 production. Behind the plate, catching for Skubal, he's been even better.
As Stavenhagen writes, "Skubal has a 2.15 ERA in his first 20 outings with Dingler behind the plate." While Skubal has been incredible regardless of who's catching him, his dominance across 20 starts with Dingler is noteworthy.
The Tigers have found their catcher of the future in Dingler amid his breakout 2025 season. Combined with his strong connection with Skubal, the two have paired to make one of the better pitcher-catcher duos in baseball.
His reaction to Skubal from the dugout likely mirrors that of anyone seeing Skubal for the first time. But now, he's a part of Skubal's dominance, and he's no longer just a bystander; he's a contributor.
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