Dean Kremer

Dean Junior Kremer (Hebrew: דין קרמר‎; born January 7, 1996) is an Israeli–American professional baseball pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization. In 2015 he became the first Israeli drafted by a Major League Baseball team.

Dean Kremer
Kremer with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Baltimore Orioles – No. 64
Pitcher
Born: (1996-01-07) January 7, 1996
Stockton, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Medals
Men’s Baseball
Representing  United States
Maccabiah Games
2013 Israel National team

In international competition, Kremer pitched for the Team USA baseball team in the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning a gold medal. The following two years he pitched for Israel in the qualifying for the European Baseball Championship, and won the Most Valuable Pitcher award in both 2014 and 2015. He also pitched in September 2016 in the qualifier for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Kremer pitched for San Joaquin Delta College in his freshman year in 2014, and was named a Third Team All-American. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, becoming the first Israeli to ever be selected in the MLB draft, but chose not to sign. He was drafted again, this time by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, and did sign. He threw a fastball in the 90-93 mph range that sometimes reached 94 miles per hour (151 km/h)-95 miles per hour (153 km/h), a slider, a curveball, and a splitter. He pitched for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He was traded to the Orioles at the 2018 trade deadline. In 2018, Kremer led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts.

Early life

Kremer was born and raised in Stockton, California, and is Jewish.[1][2] He had his bar mitzvah in Israel.[3] Discussing the decision by Jewish Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax to not pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because the game fell on Yom Kippur, Kremer said: "I would do the same."[4]

Kremer lives in Israel for two months of every year, and has dual Israeli-American citizenship.[5] His parents Adi and Sigal Kremer are Israeli, and after they completed their service in the Israel Defense Forces they came together to the United States.[3] His father played college tennis at University of the Pacific, which he attended on a tennis scholarship.[5][6] Kremer is fluent in Hebrew, and the family speaks Hebrew at home.[5][7]

He has two younger brothers, Ron (who is in the Israeli Army) and Niv.[8][5][7][9] His grandparents live in Israel, in Tel Aviv and in Rishon LeZion, and all of his extended family other than his parents and youngest brother live in Israel.[6][10][9] His great-uncle is American-Israeli businessman and philanthropist Haim Saban.[5]

Kremer started playing baseball in Little League at the age of five.[7]

High school

Kremer attended Lincoln High School in Stockton, California, and graduated in 2013.[8] There, he played baseball for two seasons as a right fielder and pitcher, and was twice named Second Team All-League.[8][11][12] As a senior, on the mound for a significant amount for the first time, he was 6-2 with a 2.35 ERA, and 37 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.[13][14]

College

He then in 2013-14 attended San Joaquin Delta College for his freshman year of college as a Business major, playing for the Mustangs, and becoming a full-time pitcher.[8][7][14] He also followed the college's weight and conditioning program, and the formerly skinny pitcher gained approximately 20 pounds (9.1 kg), bringing him to 35 pounds (16 kg) over his 140 pounds (64 kg) weight when he graduated high school.[14][15] Kremer was 13-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 112.2 innings pitched, with 90 strikeouts.[8][11] He was named the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association’s Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 5, 2015, and a 2015 Third Team All-American.[8][16][2][17]

Kremer transferred for 2014-15 to the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) on a baseball scholarship for his sophomore year. He was a starting pitcher for the Rebels and went 4-5 with a 4.92 ERA.[5][7][18][4][19] At the time, he threw a fastball in the low-90s.[5]

Minor leagues

In June 2015, at 19 years of age, Kremer became the first Israeli to ever be selected in the Major League Baseball draft, when he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round of the 2015 Draft.[20] He had been projected to go much higher in the draft, but for the fact that he had already committed to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and told interested MLB teams that he intended to attend the school for a year.[5][14] He chose to honor his commitment and play college baseball for the UNLV Rebels, which left three years on his eligibility at the time, with the plan of playing professionally after college.[21][7][22]

Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-2018)

In the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, Kremer was picked in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 431st overall.[23] He signed with the Dodgers for a signing bonus of $147,500.[24][25][26] At the time, he threw a fastball in the 90-93 mph range that sometimes reached 94 miles per hour (151 km/h)-95 miles per hour (153 km/h), a slider, a curveball, and a splitter.[18][19]

Kremer made his professional debut on July 3, 2016, for the Ogden Raptors of the Rookie Pioneer League. On August 11, he was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League.[4] Kremer finished his first professional regular season between the two teams with a 2-1 record and a 2.27 ERA, as in 31.2 innings he struck out 35 batters, while giving up 19 hits and 7 walks while holding hitters to a .176 batting average.[1][1][27] In the playoffs, Kremer pitched 10.1 innings with an 0.87 ERA and 6 strikeouts, and recorded the final eight outs of the Loons' championship-clinching win over the Clinton LumberKings.[28]

The Dodgers assigned Kremer to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Class A+ California League for the 2017 season. There he made 33 appearances for the (with six starts) and was 1–4 with a 5.18 ERA, and struck out 96 batters in 80 innings.[29][27]

He returned to the Quakes for the 2018 season[30] and was named a California League Mid-Season All Star.[31] He was 5–3 with a 3.30 ERA in 16 starts for the Quakes[27] before he was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League on July 5. In his debut for them he pitched a three-hit shutout against the Midland RockHounds while striking out 11.[32] He was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week on July 8.[33]

Baltimore Orioles (2018-present)

On July 18, 2018, Kremer was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with Yusniel Diaz, Rylan Bannon, Zach Pop, and Breyvic Valera for Manny Machado.[34] At the time, Fangraphs wrote of Kremer: "Throws 92-95, touches 97, above-average curveball, average change. If pitchability improves, he’s a back-end starter. If not, solid relief option."[35] He was assigned to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League and finished the year there. In 2018 in 25 starts between Rancho Cucamonga, Tulsa, and Bowie, he was 10-5 with a 2.88 ERA, striking out 178 batters (leading the entire minor leagues) in 131.1 innings pitched.[36][37] He was a mid-season California League All Star.[38]

In 2019 Kremer pitched two starts for the Frederick Keys of the Class A+ Carolina League, 15 starts for Bowie, and four starts for the Norfolk Tides of the Class AAA International League.[39] He was a combined 9-6 with a 3.72 ERA, as in 113.2 innings he struck out 122 batters.[39]

He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros following the 2019 season.[40] Kremer was added to the Orioles 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[41]

Israel national team

Kremer has competed several times for the Israel national baseball team in international tournaments, as the team's ace starting pitcher.[42][18]

European Baseball Championships

Kremer has pitched for Israel in the qualifying rounds for the 2016 European Baseball Championship. In both the B-Level and C-Level qualifiers, which took place in 2014 and 2015, he won the Most Valuable Pitcher award.[3][43]

Kremer pitched in 2014 in Slovenia for Israel in the C-Level qualifier at the 2016 European Baseball Championship, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. In 13 innings, he gave up six hits and a walk, while striking out 20 batters.[3] He led all pitchers in the tournament in ERA, strikeouts, and wins.[44] In the opening game against Finland, he went 5 innings, giving up 2 hits and 1 unearned run, and recording 9 strikeouts, while earning the win.[45] He then pitched again during the semifinal game against Romania, going 8 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 unearned run, and recording 5 strikeouts, while earning his second win of the qualifier.[46]

Israel advanced to the 2015 B-level qualifier for the 2016 European Baseball Championship in Vienna, Austria. Kremer again pitched on the opening day, going 6 innings against Belarus, not giving up any runs, striking out 10, and recording another win.[47] During Israel's fifth and final game of the B-level qualifier, against Sweden, Kremer started again going 7.1 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) and 9 hits, and striking out 5.[48]

World Baseball Classic

Kremer pitched in September 2016 for Israel in the qualifier for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[49] He was, at 20 years of age, the youngest player on the team.[50] Kremer said: "I've been dreaming about playing for this team, since I first saw them in 2012 and heard about the WBC and representing Israel."[50] In Israel's third and final game, in which it qualified for the 2017 World Baseball Classic by defeating Great Britain, Kremer pitched the 9th inning, giving up two hits, recording one strikeout, and not giving up any runs.[51]

Kremer pitched for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic main tournament, in March 2017.[52][53]

Maccabiah Games

Kremer pitched for the Team USA baseball team in the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel.[5][54][3] The team won the gold medal in the Games.[55]

References
  1. "Dean Kremer Stats, Highlights, Bio,", MiLB.com Stats
  2. Allon Sinai, "Kremer first Israeli to be picked in MLB draft," The Jerusalem Post, June 12, 2015
  3. Stuart M. Katz, "Dean Kremer: 18-year-old ace with Israeli roots,", Jewish Baseball News,, September 29, 2014
  4. Harold Uhlman, "After making history Dean Kremer makes Loons debut; Young right-hander becomes first Israeli citizen to sign with MLB team," Think Blue LA, August 14, 2016
  5. Todd Dewey, "UNLV pitcher Dean Kremer brings MLB history into home-opening series," Las Vegas Review-Journal, February 25, 2016
  6. Hillel Kuttler, "Special meaning: Dodgers prospect, Israeli citizen, can't wait to represent Israel in WBC," Jewish Baseball Museum, September 19, 2016
  7. "האיגוד הישראלי לבייסבול - Hear it from the Players: Kremer and Lipetz," Israel Association of Baseball, September 22, 2016
  8. "Dean Kremer Bio," UNLVRebels.com
  9. "Our friend from-Israel podcast; episode 18; Dean Kremer first Israeli be drafted into Major League Baseball"
  10. Aron Heller (July 22, 2015). "Pitcher Dean Kremer hopes to give baseball a boost in sports-mad Israel", The Globe and Mail.
  11. "Dean Kremer #16," San Joaquin Delta College Athletics - Baseball
  12. "Trojan Sports: Spring Preview - Baseball" The Link, February 2013
  13. "Dean Kremer's (Stockton, CA) Baseball Stats," MaxPreps
  14. Joel Keller, "How a skinny kid blossomed into a MLB prospect; Pitcher Dean Kremer is the first Israeli to be drafted by a major league team" From the Grapevine, August 18, 2015
  15. Todd Dewey, "UNLV pitcher Dean Kremer brings MLB history into home-opening series," Las Vegas Review-Journal, February 26, 2016
  16. "Player Bio - #6 - Dean Kremer", Delta College
  17. "NORCAL Players of the Week!", California Community College Baseball Coaches Association, April 7, 2015
  18. Aron Heller, "Israel's first major league pitcher hopes to put his country on the baseball map," Haaretz, July 22, 2015.
  19. Robert Gluck, Israeli trailblazer "Dean Kremer brings Jewish values to nascent pro baseball career," JNS.org, July 20, 2016.
  20. "Dean Kremer Becomes First Israeli Citizen Picked in MLB Draft, by San Diego Padres; Stockton, California teen, whose parents were born and raised in Israel, is among 15 Jewish players drafted this year,", Haaretz, June 18, 2015
  21. "Rebels Sign Nine For 2015-16," UNLV Rebels, November 20, 2014
  22. "First Ever Israeli Dean Kremer Drafted By The San Diego Padres" Archived 2016-09-18 at the Wayback Machine, OS News, June 11, 2015
  23. Stephen, Eric (June 12, 2016). "MLB Draft 2016: Dodgers 14th-round pick Dean Kremer was first Israeli drafted in MLB". SB Nation. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  24. Stephen, Eric (June 16, 2016). "Dodgers sign 8th-round pick Andre Scrubb". SB Nation. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  25. "Dean Kremer Makes History As First Israeli To Sign An Mlb Contract," Archived 2016-10-18 at the Wayback Machine bliister.com
  26. Ross Olson, "Dodgers Rumors: Signing Bonus Details For 2016 Draft Picks Will Smith, D.J. Peters And Others," Dodger Blue, June 21, 2016
  27. "Dean Kremer Register Statistics & History". Baseball Reference.
  28. Stephen, Eric (September 18, 2016). "Great Lakes Loons win their first Midwest League Championship". SB Nation. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  29. Lindskog, Mike (April 3, 2017). "Quakes Announce 2017 Roster". milb.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  30. Lindskog, Mike (April 2, 2018). "2018 Roster Announced". milb.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  31. Lindskog, Mike (June 11, 2018). "Six All-Stars for Quakes in 2018!". milb.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  32. Minami, Craig (July 6, 2018). "Dean Kremer sparkles in Tulsa debut". SB Nation. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  33. Dean Kremer Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com
  34. Gurnick, Ken (July 18, 2018). "Dodgers complete Machado trade with Orioles". mlb.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  35. "Ranking the Prospects Traded at the Deadline," FanGraphs Baseball.
  36. "Dean Kremer Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  37. "Minor league baseball 2018 All-Star team"
  38. Dean Kremer Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
  39. Dean Kremer College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com
  40. 2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced
  41. Jon Meoli (November 2019). "Orioles protect top prospects Ryan Mountcastle, Keegan Akin, two others from Rule 5 draft". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  42. "Baseball Stats ISR," baseballstats.eu
  43. "Sweden wins B Level European Championship in Vienna," Confederation of European Baseball, August 1, 2015
  44. "European Championship C-level 2014 (SLO); Individual Statistics; Category Leaders", Confederation of European Baseball
  45. "Israel 13, Finland 1 (July 29, 2014)", baseballstats.eu
  46. "Israel 8, Romania 3 (August 1, 2014)", baseballstats.eu
  47. "Israel 13, Belarus 1" (Jul 27, 2015), baseballstats.eu
  48. "Sweden 9, Israel 8" (July 31, 2015)", baseballstats.eu
  49. Vince Lara-Cinisomo, "Rosters for WBC Qualifier in Brooklyn: Israel, Pakistan, Great Britain, Brazil", Baseball America, September 22, 2016
  50. Thomas Neumann, "Flexible eligibility rules, major league talent help Israel qualify for World Baseball Classic," ESPN, September 28, 2016
  51. "Israel 9, Great Britain 1 (September 25, 2016)", mlb.com
  52. MLB Players Ty Kelly, Sam Fuld Commit to World Baseball Classic Roster, Haaretz.
  53. "Israel brings MLB experience to 1st WBC main draw", mlb.com.
  54. "Dodgers make baseball history by signing Israeli citizen," j., June 23, 2016
  55. "Dean Kremer is the first Israeli to sign with an MLB team,", Haaretz, June 18, 2016
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