Get To Know The Baby Birds: Dean Kremer

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Photo credit © Tommy Gilligan - USA Today Sports

By Joe Schiller

Pitchers and catchers took the field for the first time today in 2019, signaling the start of Spring Training for the Baltimore Orioles.

Among those was Dean Kremer – one of 18 non-roster invitees down to Sarasota, Florida.

The 23-year-old was acquired by the Orioles from the Los Angeles Dodgers last July in exchange for Manny Machado. On Monday I previewed teammate Yusniel Diaz, one of the top prospects from that trade package and Kremer falls in the same category.

A 16th-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2016 MLB Draft, Kremer appeared in 25 games with the Dodgers’ Class-A and Class-AA Affiliates, along with Class-AA Bowie. He finished with a 10-5 record, 2.88 ERA and led the minor leagues with 178 total strikeouts.
Kremer joined 105.7 the Fan’s Jerry Coleman and Bob Haynie at Orioles FanFest last month and spoke about the experience of being traded from Los Angeles to Baltimore.

.@Orioles P Dean Kremer talks about the trade that sent him from the Dodgers to Baltimore last season #OsFanFest pic.twitter.com/9sr8YT2Mqo

— 105.7 The Fan (@1057TheFan) January 26, 2019

The Orioles endured struggles on the mound in a franchise-worst season. They ranked dead last in team ERA (5.18) and in opponent batting average (.276). Both areas Kremer saw success at, albeit at a lower level.

Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner figure to make up the starting pitching rotation with two spots left to players like David Hess, Yefry Ramirez or others who Brandon Hyde and Doug Brocail feel are ready. A potential revolving door at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots gives Kremer a chance to crack into the majors this season. 

Kremer currently ranks as the Orioles’ 16th best prospect according to MLB.com but he’s coming off one of the best seasons in the farm system. With continued success in the minor leagues, Kremer is an under-the-radar player to keep an eye on as the 2019 season progresses.