Dean Kremer

Dean Kremer Bio

Dean Junior Kremer is an Israeli–American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on January 7, 1996, in Stockton, California, Kremer made history in 2015 when he became the first Israeli ever selected in the MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in September 2020, becoming the first Israeli citizen to pitch in the major leagues. Kremer has represented Israel in multiple international competitions, including the World Baseball Classic, and has established himself as a key contributor in the Orioles’ starting rotation.

Early Life and Background

Dean Kremer was born and raised in Stockton, California, to parents Adi and Sigal Kremer, who are originally from Israel and both served in the Israel Defense Forces before moving to the United States. His father played college tennis at the University of the Pacific on a tennis scholarship. Kremer is fluent in Hebrew, and his family speaks Hebrew at home. He maintains strong ties to Israel, where his grandparents live in Tel Aviv and Rishon LeZion, and he spends two months there each year. He even had his bar mitzvah in Israel. His extended family, aside from his parents and youngest brother, all reside in Israel. His great-uncle is Haim Saban, the prominent American-Israeli businessman and philanthropist.

Kremer has two younger brothers: Ron, who serves in the Israeli Army, and Niv. Discussing the legacy of Sandy Koufax, who famously refused to pitch in the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, Kremer expressed his own commitment to his heritage, saying he would make the same decision. Kremer grew up immersed in baseball and Jewish tradition, elements that would shape both his career and identity.

Path to Professional Baseball

Kremer began playing baseball at age five in Little League. He attended Lincoln High School in Stockton and graduated in 2013. During high school, he played both as a right fielder and pitcher for two seasons and was twice named Second Team All-League. As a senior, he posted a 6–2 record with a 2.35 earned run average and recorded 37 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched.

After high school, Kremer enrolled at San Joaquin Delta College for his freshman year, where he made the transition to becoming a full-time pitcher. He went 13–1 with a 2.00 ERA in 112.2 innings pitched and recorded 90 strikeouts. The formerly slender pitcher dedicated himself to the college’s weight and conditioning program, gaining approximately 20 pounds over his 140-pound high school weight. His performance earned him recognition as a 2015 Third Team All-American and the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association’s Pitcher of the Week.

For his sophomore year, Kremer transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on a baseball scholarship. He served as a starting pitcher for the Rebels and went 4–5 with a 4.92 ERA during the 2014–15 season. His velocity was developing, throwing a fastball in the low-90s during his college career.

Dean Kremer Career

Early Professional Career (2016–2018)

In June 2015, Kremer became the first Israeli selected in the Major League Baseball draft when the San Diego Padres chose him in the 38th round. He had projected to go much higher in the draft but had already committed to UNLV and informed teams he intended to honor that commitment. He chose not to sign with the Padres to play college baseball. The following year, in the 2016 MLB draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Kremer in the 14th round, 431st overall. He signed with the Dodgers for a signing bonus of $147,500.

Kremer made his professional debut on July 3, 2016, for the Ogden Raptors of the Rookie Pioneer League. He was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League less than six weeks later. In his first professional season, he combined for a 2–1 record and a 2.27 ERA, striking out 35 batters in 31.2 innings while holding hitters to a .176 batting average. He was even more dominant in the playoffs, recording 10.1 innings with a 0.87 ERA and the final eight outs of the Loons’ championship-clinching win.

Baltimore Orioles Breakthrough (2018–Present)

On July 18, 2018, the Dodgers traded Kremer to the Baltimore Orioles as part of a package for Manny Machado. The trade included outfield prospect Yusniel Diaz, infielder Rylan Bannon, pitcher Zach Pop, and utility player Breyvic Valera. At the time, FanGraphs described Kremer as having a fastball that touched 97 mph, an above-average curveball, and an average changeup, projecting him as either a back-end starter or solid relief option depending on his pitchability development.

Kremer was assigned to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League after the trade. In 2018, he combined to go 10–5 with a 2.88 ERA across three levels, striking out 178 batters in 131.1 innings—the most of any minor league pitcher that season. He was named a California League Mid-Season All-Star before his promotion. The following year, he began the season ranked as the Orioles’ No. 9 prospect by Baseball America. He made starts across Frederick, Bowie, and Norfolk (Triple-A), posting a combined 9–6 record with a 3.72 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 113.2 innings.

After the 2019 season, Kremer played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros, where he recorded a 2.37 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 19 innings, earning league All-Star honors. The Orioles added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He began 2020 ranked as Baltimore’s ninth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and earned a spot in the Orioles’ 60-man player pool during the shortened season.

On September 6, 2020, Kremer was called up to the majors. In his debut against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards, he allowed only one run and one hit while striking out seven batters in six innings, earning the win in a 5–1 victory. His seven strikeouts were the most by an Orioles pitcher in a debut in two decades. He became the fourth Orioles starter to throw six innings or more of one-hit ball in a debut and the first Israeli citizen to pitch in the major leagues. He followed with two more strong starts, becoming just the second rookie in MLB history—alongside Eduardo Rodriguez—to record at least five innings with one or fewer runs, four or fewer hits, and at least six strikeouts in each of his first three starts. He finished his rookie season with a 1–1 record and 22 strikeouts in 18.2 innings.

Baltimore Orioles Era (2020–Present)

The 2021 season proved challenging for Kremer as he struggled to a 0–7 record with a 7.55 ERA in 13 starts. However, he rebounded dramatically in 2022. He became the first pitcher in Orioles franchise history to record three consecutive scoreless starts of at least five innings each, joining elite company in Kevin Gausman, Fernando Valenzuela, and Jim Palmer. His streak ended at 23.1 innings when he allowed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly against the Texas Rangers. On September 23, 2022, Kremer threw his first career shutout in a 6–0 victory over the Houston Astros. He finished the season 8–7 with a 3.23 ERA in 22 games (21 starts), ranking second on the staff in wins.

The 2023 season marked Kremer’s breakout year. He went 13–5 with a 4.12 ERA in 32 starts, his 13 wins ranking sixth-most in the American League and his .722 win-loss percentage ranking second in the AL. He pitched 172.2 innings with 157 strikeouts, posting the eighth-best strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in Orioles history. His cutter generated 46 strikeouts, the third-most in Major League Baseball. On September 28, 2023, he delivered a dominant performance against the Boston Red Sox, striking out eight batters in 5.1 scoreless innings to help clinch the AL East division title. The crowd at Camden Yards gave him a standing ovation.

In 2024, Kremer continued his solid production with an 8–10 record and 4.10 ERA across 24 starts. He struck out 123 batters in 129.2 innings, held opponents to a .220 batting average, and induced the highest percentage of soft contact (23.1%) among American League pitchers with at least 120 innings. He also recorded the fourth-lowest exit velocity (87.4 mph) among qualifying AL pitchers.

Driving Style and Strengths

Kremer’s pitch repertoire centers on a 94 mph fourseam fastball, which he throws approximately 34% of the time, and an 88 mph cutter that he uses 31% of the time. He also features an 84 mph changeup, a 76 mph curveball, and a 92 mph sinker. His ability to generate weak contact and induce ground balls has been a defining characteristic of his craft, particularly his success at limiting hard contact and home runs. His cutter has become one of his most effective weapons, ranking among the league leaders in strikeouts generated by the pitch.

Notable Events and Milestones

Kremer’s career has been defined by several historic firsts. He became the first Israeli ever drafted by an MLB team in 2015 and the first Israeli citizen to pitch in the majors in 2020. His dominant debut against the New York Yankees, with seven strikeouts in six innings, announced his arrival in the big leagues. His first career shutout against the Houston Astros in 2022 was another milestone, as was his role in clinching the Orioles’ 2023 AL East championship. His ability to string together three consecutive scoreless starts of at least five innings placed him in rare company alongside franchise legends Jim Palmer and Fernando Valenzuela.

Dean Kremer Career Wins

Through the 2025 season, Kremer has compiled a career win-loss record of 41–40 in Major League Baseball with a 4.26 earned run average and 578 strikeouts across parts of six seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. He has been a reliable mid-rotation starter, with his most productive season coming in 2023 when he won 13 games.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Kremer’s MLB career highlights include his memorable debut on September 6, 2020, against the New York Yankees, where he struck out seven batters and earned his first career win. His 2023 season stands as his best, as he went 13–5 with a 4.12 ERA in 32 starts, helping the Orioles capture the American League East division title. He recorded his first career shutout on September 23, 2022, blanking the Houston Astros 6–0. His 2025 campaign saw him go 11–10 with a 4.19 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 171.2 innings across 31 appearances.

Minor League and International Wins

In the minor leagues, Kremer’s 2018 season was exceptional as he combined to go 10–5 with a 2.88 ERA and led all minor league pitchers with 178 strikeouts across three levels. In international competition, he dominated the 2014 and 2015 European Baseball Championship qualifiers, going a combined 4–0 with a 0.00 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 21 innings, earning Most Valuable Pitcher honors in both tournaments.

*Combined minor league ERA across all levels

Dean Kremer Family

Family Background and Heritage

Dean Kremer comes from a distinguished family with strong Israeli roots. His parents, Adi and Sigal Kremer, are both Israeli natives who met in the Israel Defense Forces before emigrating to the United States. His father played college tennis at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he attended on a tennis scholarship. The family maintains dual American and Israeli citizenship, and Kremer has dual nationality by birth. Hebrew is the primary language spoken at home, and Kremer is fluent in the language.

Kremer’s extended family is extensive in Israel, with grandparents residing in Tel Aviv and Rishon LeZion. His great-uncle is Haim Saban, the renowned businessman who built significant wealth in the entertainment and media industries before becoming a major philanthropist supporting Israeli and Jewish causes. This family connection underscores Kremer’s deep ties to the Jewish state and his commitment to representing Israel on the international baseball stage.

Personal Life

Kremer has two younger brothers: Ron, who currently serves in the Israeli Army, and Niv. The family remains closely connected to Israel, with Kremer spending approximately two months each year in the country. He had his bar mitzvah ceremony in Israel, and the family’s Jewish identity plays a significant role in their lives. When reflecting on his heritage, Kremer has expressed admiration for Sandy Koufax’s decision to sit out the 1965 World Series for Yom Kippur, stating he would make the same choice if faced with a similar conflict between baseball and his religious observance.

Dean Kremer International Career

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kremer has been a mainstay for the Israel national baseball team in international competition. He has represented Israel in multiple tournaments, often serving as the team’s ace starting pitcher. His international career began in 2013 when he played for Team USA at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning a gold medal. He then pitched for Israel in the 2014 and 2015 European Baseball Championship qualifiers, earning Most Valuable Pitcher honors both years. At age 20, he was the youngest player on Israel’s roster during the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier, and he went on to pitch in the main tournament. He also represented Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, playing under manager Ian Kinsler alongside major league players like Joc Pederson and Richard Bleier.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season saw Dean Kremer continue his role as a steady presence in the Baltimore Orioles’ starting rotation. He made 31 appearances, including 29 starts, compiling an 11–10 record with a 4.19 earned run average. He struck out 142 batters across 171.2 innings pitched, maintaining his reputation as a pitcher capable of generating strikeouts while limiting hard contact. His durability and consistency allowed him to approach 30 starts for the second consecutive season, a milestone that solidified his place in the Orioles’ plans for the future. As Kremer entered the 2026 season, he looked to build upon his established track record while competing for a spot in a strengthened Orioles rotation.