The verdict is in, and it’s a bit of a bummer for Tigers fans-none of Detroit’s players have made it to the next round of fan voting for the American League’s starting lineup in the upcoming All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 14.
The fan voting process is a two-phase affair, and while some Tigers were in the mix, they didn’t quite make the cut. Catcher Dillon Dingler and shortstop Kevin McGonigle were the closest, but both fell just short of the top two spots needed to advance at their respective positions.
Dingler’s exclusion is particularly surprising. This guy’s been on fire, arguably the top catcher in baseball this season.
His 3.7 WAR, according to FanGraphs, isn’t just leading among catchers-it’s seventh-best across all positions in the majors. The only catcher who came close was Shea Langeliers from the A’s, who, along with Alejandro Kirk of the Blue Jays, moved on to the next round of voting.
Dingler, at 27, was aiming to be the first Tigers catcher to start an All-Star Game since Alex Avila in 2011. Instead, he’ll have to settle for a reserve spot, marking his first All-Star appearance.
With 18 home runs and 56 RBIs, plus elite defense coming off a Gold Glove season in 2025, he’s certainly earned it.
As for McGonigle, the 21-year-old shortstop also missed out on advancing. He finished behind Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals and Andres Gimenez of the Blue Jays.
Witt and McGonigle have been standout shortstops in the AL, with WAR ratings of 4.3 and 4.0, respectively. McGonigle’s rookie season has been impressive-six homers, 28 RBIs, and more walks than strikeouts.
He was hoping to be the first Tiger to start at shortstop for the AL since Dick McAuliffe in the mid-60s. And just a fun fact: even Hall-of-Famer Alan Trammell never started an All-Star Game.
There’s a twist to watch for: Witt is dealing with an MCL sprain. While he hasn’t hit the injured list yet, if his condition worsens, McGonigle could get the nod to start, provided Witt edges out Gimenez in the next phase of voting, which kicks off Monday.
Riley Greene, Detroit’s left fielder, was also in the running but didn’t make it into the top six needed to advance. Greene, 25, is vying for his third straight All-Star selection.
Last year, the Tigers celebrated six All-Stars, their highest number since 2013. This included pitchers Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, though it’s worth noting that pitchers aren’t included in the fan voting process for the All-Star Game. So while the Tigers might not have starters in the lineup, there’s still plenty of talent in Detroit to keep an eye on.