DETROIT -- Tigers All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler left Wednesday’s game against the Athletics after taking a foul tip off his right thumb.
Dingler, selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve by player vote, had his throwing hand on his right knee as Troy Melton’s 95 mile-per-hour fastball hit off Jacob Wilson’s bat. The ball seemed to hit off the base of the thumb, leaving Dingler shaking his hand in pain. Manager A.J. Hinch and head athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks checked on Dingler, who stayed in the game after a couple of warmup tosses.
By next inning, however, the swelling likely became impossible to manage. Jake Rogers began preparing to pinch-hit for Dingler when the inning began, and slugged a two-run home run off lefty Jeffrey Springs before taking Dingler’s place behind the plate to catch Melton.
Any time lost for Dingler would be potentially devastating for the Tigers, who entered Wednesday having won six of seven to climb back towards postseason contention. Dingler entered Wednesday tied for seventh in the Majors with a 3.9 fWAR, and is just the third Tiger in the last 26 years to post 19 home runs and 60 RBIs before the All-Star break. His RBI total ranked fourth among American League hitters entering Wednesday.