Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene, and Kevin McGonigle named to AL All-Star squad

Dillon Dingler of the Detroit Tigers after his two run homerrun during the fifth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres

The final rosters for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game were announced on Saturday evening, and finally the Detroit Tigers got some justice. Dillon Dingler, the best catcher in baseball this season, was named to the team as a reserve behind leading vote getter Shea Langeliers. Rookie phenon Kevin McGonigle, like Dingler a top ten position player in the major leagues this season, was also named as a reserve at the shortstop behind the Kansas City Royals‘ Bobby Witt Jr, while Riley Greene made the reserve squad for this third straight All-Star Game appearance.

The reserves are selected by a player ballot, with several Commissioner’s Office selections rounding out the roster for the Mid-Summer Classic to ensure that every team has a representative.

Dingler is currently 3rd in all baseball in terms of fWAR for position players. The 27-year-old backstop has already been one of the best defensive catchers in the game for two seasons, but this year the bat caught up and its been nothing but fireworks at the plate. Dingler has 19 homers on the year already after hitting 13 in all of 2025. His 133 wRC+ mark is a career best as well. He grades out as the third best blocker, and the second best pitch framer in baseball, and he’s adapted wonderfully to the ABS challenge system as well. The Tigers finally have the all-around monster catcher of their dreams. He’s the first Tigers catcher in 15 years to make the All-Star Game.

Riley Greene will be making his third straight All-Star Game appearance this year. The left fielder has played in all but one game this season and after a sluggish start in power department, now has 12 homers after a big month of June. He holds a .375 on-base percentage and a 133 wRC+ on the year.

The 21-year-old McGonigle has been a revelation this season, even to those of who have predicted eventual greatness throughout his brief minor league career. He’s improved defensively and is playing a solid shortstop while getting a bit of work at third base as well. He’s also showing off the best speed of his career. Combine all that with his elite eye and contact ability, producing a .394 on-base percentage, more walks than strikeouts, and a 135 wRC+ and you have one heck of a player. McGonigle becomes the first Tigers player since Mark Fidyrich to make the Midsummer Classic as a 21-year-old, and the only other Tiger to do that was Mr. Al Kaline. Incredible stuff from the Kid this season.

He’ll be joined by three other rookies. The Guardians’ Travis Bazzana and right-hander Parker Messick made the cut, as well as the Cincinnati Reds‘ rookie first baseman, Sal Stewart.

We all know the All-Star Game can be a bit of a joke in terms of the voting process. Even so, it’s still a milestone achievement for any player, especially a rookie. The three Tigers are right among the best players in the game, and so it’s only fitting that they get to head to Philadelphia together.

Even better for McGonigle is the fact that he grew up in the area, graduating from Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He grew up a Phillies fan, rooting for Chase Utley and modeling his game after the great second baseman. No doubt it will be a special thrill for McGonigle to play the first of many All-Star games in his career at Citizens Bank Park.

Congratulations to all three Tigers’ All-Stars!