Dean Kremer to start for Orioles in Game 3 of ALDS while thinking of family in Israel amid deadly conflict
With their backs against the wall in the American League Division Series, Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is turning to pitcher Dean Kremer for Tuesday's Game 3 matchup with the Texas Rangers.
The Orioles trail the Rangers 0-2 in the series and need a win to keep their season — the best one Baltimore has had since reaching the ALCS in 2014 — alive.
On Monday, Hyde checked in with Kremer to make sure the pitcher was still up for the start after a deadly conflict broke out in Israel, where Kremer is a dual citizen and has a lot of family, this past weekend.
"Gave him my support and sympathies for him and his family that's involved, and he seemed OK," Hyde said Monday, via The Associated Press. "Obviously, he's very disturbed, and there's a lot of things going on. But I didn't sense that it was going to affect [him] ... I think he's really looking forward to pitching tomorrow, so I didn't think it was going to affect him."
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. That reignited the deadly conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has been going on for decades and led to Israel declaring war against the group.
As of Tuesday afternoon, per The New York Times, more than 1,000 people had been killed in the violence. President Joe Biden said 14 United States citizens were among those dead and several Americans were being held hostage by Hamas. Biden called Hamas’ attack terrorism and “pure, unadulterated evil.”
Kremer was born and raised in Northern California, but both of his parents were born in Israel, and he identifies as Israeli. He’s a dual-citizen, is fluent in Hebrew and spends time each year in Israel. Kremer’s grandparents live in the Tel Aviv area, and his brother, Ron, is an administrator in the Israeli Army.
Kremer didn't get into specifics, but said Monday that his family was safe.
“My family’s OK,” Kremer said, via the Baltimore Banner. “I mean, obviously, it’s a very sad situation. A lot of things are being brought to light. But everybody’s OK right now.”
Kremer, 27, holds a 4.12 ERA in 32 starts this season. He has thrown a career-high 172⅔ innings this year and holds a 13-5 record.
Kremer became the first Israeli taken in the amateur draft in 2015, and he made his debut with the Orioles in 2020.
Kremer wasn't the only one in Major League Baseball addressing the conflict in Israel this week. Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who is Jewish, had the Star of David drawn onto his hat for their ALDS game against the Minnesota Twins.
Alex Bregman has a Star of David drawn on his hat today. pic.twitter.com/Awm4fWqd8H
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) October 10, 2023
While Kremer knows Tuesday’s game in Arlington will undoubtedly be the biggest of his career, and that’s where he’s trying to keep his focus, he will also be thinking about his family.
“I still want to pitch, but, I mean, it’s going to be in the back of my head,” he said, via The Associated Press.
