Right-hander Dean Kremer was selected by the Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Kremer had previously been selected by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round in 2015 following his sophomore year at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California but chose to honor his commitment to attend UNLV for the 2016 season to gain more experience at a higher level and to work at building up his strength. Had he not been firm in his commitment to UNLV, it was thought Kremer could have gone much higher in that draft.

“I told them I wanted to come back to school and get more experience at this level,” Kremer said. “It’s definitely different than junior college. You definitely see better hitters. The main influence for my decision, for me, was whether I was not physically ready, but mentally ready. I didn’t feel like I was mentally ready yet. I could definitely use a little more game-experience at a higher level.”

Dean Kremer with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.
(Photo credit – Yong Dawson)

There is always a risk to passing on a chance to play professionally but Kremer decided he would rather be ready for the challenges of professional baseball before he entered the uphill climb to MLB.

Although he found the going much more challenging with the UNLV Running Rebels, Kremer soon joined the starting rotation and experienced life with a Division I school in the Mountain West Conference. As a second-year player, he gained confidence and also the confidence of his coach, Stan Stolte.

“I’ve never thrown in front of that many people and definitely not people screaming at you the whole time,” Kremer said. “But I liked it. It was kind of fun. It gave me confidence.”

“He can handle the speed of the game,” said coach Stolte. “He’s just kind of calm and loose, and nothing bothers him. He’s got good stuff with good control. He’s got a chance to pitch professionally one day.”

The Dodgers apparently concurred with coach Stolte’s assessment and drafted the 20-year-old Kremer in the 14th round of the 2016 Draft.

In the world of baseball there seems to be an endless stream of “firsts” and more often than not the Dodgers are in the middle of those special moments.

Kremer, upon signing with the Dodgers, became the first Israeli to sign a contract with a Major League Baseball team in the United States. Although born in Stockton, California, he grew up in Tel Aviv with Israeli parents and he also holds Israeli citizenship. There have been many notable Jewish players in MLB – including the Dodgers Sandy Koufax, Shawn Green and Joc Pederson – but Kremer will always have the distinction of being the first to sign as an Israeli citizen.

Kremer has played for the Israeli national team for the last three years, in tournaments like the European Baseball championships, and has become the face of baseball in Israel, a role model for youngsters in Israel wanting to play baseball instead of soccer.

This is a “huge” step for baseball in Israel, according to Israel national team head coach Nate Fish: “The kids in Israel are already talking about it,” Fish told the Jewish Week by email. “They look up to him as an Israeli baseball role model.”

Kremer is the first Israeli citizen to be signed by a MLB team.
(Photo courtesy of Dean Kremer)

While it is difficult to gauge the potential of a baseball player, Fish thinks that Kremer has “a lot of upside.” “He has the whole package of physical and mental gifts,” said Fish, “and he comes from a good family.”

Kremer, a righty who throws a slider, curve and splitter, gets the most attention in Israel for his fastball. His manager Richard Kania says that Kremer “touches the low-90s” and no one has ever seen that kind of velocity in Israel. Kids lined the gates to watch him warm up, awed by the sound of his fastball snapping against the catcher’s mitt.

Honored to be the first Israeli player to be signed by a MLB team, Dean Kremer is also humbled by the attention he has received. When asked if he feels pressure as the first Israeli to sign a MLB contract, Kremer said he tries not to think of it that way.

“It’s different for me than say, someone like Jackie Robinson,” Kremer said, referring to the MLB’s first black player. “Although baseball is growing, it is still not a major sport in Israel. There are a lot of people who still don’t know what it is.”

Kremer was reminded that Dodger great Sandy Koufax decided not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because the game fell on Yom Kippur. True to his beliefs and upbringing he responded: “I would do the same.”

He was also honored to be selected by the Dodgers in the 2016 June Draft. “I am very excited and honored to be a part of such a great organization, in the Dodgers,” Kremer said.

“I felt that I was ready this year to start my career so I am taking advantage of the opportunity I was given. I just hope that the higher I go up in the system, the more baseball will become popular in Israel. I just want to set the example that it can be done,” Kremer said.

Kremer made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League on July 2 against the Orem Owlz. Over 16.1 innings with the Raptors in six starts he posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP along with 13 strikeouts and three walks.

Kremer (center) with several of his Ogden Raptors teammates.
(Photo credit – Michael Grennell)

The 6’2” – 185-pound Kremer, armed with his four-pitch arsenal, was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest league on August 11.

He made his first appearance with the Loons on Saturday, August 13 in a relief appearance with the Loons leading Lake County Captains 4-3. He entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and pitched a scoreless inning after giving up a leadoff single to Captains catcher Martin Cervenka.

Kremer came back out in the seventh inning, and although he walked a batter with two outs, he recorded another scoreless inning which included two strikeouts in the inning.

The Loons went on to set down the Captains 6-3 with designated hitter Ibandel Isabel missing the cycle by that illusive triple. Starter Leonardo Crawford picked up the win while left-hander Luis De Paula closed out the final two innings by striking out the last five hitters he faced.

The Great Lakes squad meet the Captains again on Sunday afternoon with 20-year-old left-hander Caleb Ferguson getting the start.