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First Israeli MLB draftee begins climb in Dodger organization

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Dean Kremer, a lean, 6-foot-3 20-year-old with a low-90s fastball and a devastating curveball — who happens to have already cemented his place in history as the first Israeli citizen to be drafted in Major League Baseball after being taken by the San Diego Padres last year.
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July 6, 2016

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Dean Kremer, a lean, 6-foot-3 20-year-old with a low-90s fastball and a devastating curveball — who happens to have already cemented his place in history as the first Israeli citizen to be drafted in Major League Baseball after being taken by the San Diego Padres last year.

However, the right-handed prospect, who has been assigned to play in Utah for the Dodgers’ minor league Pioneer League affiliate Ogden Raptors, looks past his own records, and seeks to make more. 

“I’m excited to be a part of it all, especially here,” Kremer said after being signed on June 14. “There’s such a strong base in the Dodger community for me, and I’m focused on working toward realizing the ultimate goal of reaching the top.”

For Kremer, being a part of the Dodger organization specifically feels “like an honor, and a responsibility.”

“There were legends here who I’m always thinking about. Shawn Green, Sandy Koufax, you know, they make it special for me to be who I am in this organization,” he said, referring to the retired Jewish All-Star outfielder and Cy Young Award winner, respectively.

Though Kremer was born in Stockton, Calif., his identity is inextricably Israeli. He is a dual citizen — the first Israeli to be drafted into American professional baseball — who speaks fluent Hebrew and spends his summers in the Jewish state to visit extended family and friends. 

His parents, Adi and Sigal, were born and raised in Israel. His father, a star tennis player, was recruited by the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The family, which retains dual citizenship, guided Kremer’s baseball career in the United States, though the sport is relatively unpopular in Israel. As Kremer grew to learn and love the sport, so did his family.

“For my dad, it was anything but tennis for me; he never wanted me to come close to the court,” Kremer said. “So while ‘Jewish’ and ‘baseball’ go together [to some extent] in America, it’s harder to understand in Israel.”

Kremer has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old, though at first, he also spent his winters playing soccer, the sport that traditionally attracts the best Israeli athletes. However, he was encouraged by his father, who “was just beginning to follow baseball culture in America,” to pursue his baseball career, joining the travel ball circuit and playing for his high school team.

“I was an outfielder in the beginning of high school,” Kremer said. “But then I realized that I couldn’t hit, and the coaches here saw that I might fit in on the diamond elsewhere.”

Less than three years ago, Kremer transitioned from the outfield to the pitcher’s mound, where he was able to develop a repertoire to match his imposing stature and golden locks. That prompted university scouts to pay attention. He played his 2015 freshman year at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton — compiling a 13-1 record and 2.00 ERA — and was drafted in the 38th round by the Padres. Deciding not to go pro, he continued playing at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was drafted in June by the Dodgers in the 14th round.

“Last year, being drafted out of junior college, I wasn’t ready,” Kremer said. “So I upheld my commitment to UNLV, played a year there and then decided that I had the maturity to be able to start my minor league career.”

Kremer has been involved in Israeli baseball, as well. After his senior year of high school, he was invited to play for Team Israel in the European Championships, where he has helped the team to being ranked 19th in the world. Kremer pitched in the 2014 and 2015 European Championships, and plans to take his slot as the team’s ace in the World Baseball Classic qualifier this September in Brooklyn. 

For Kremer, a commitment to Israeli baseball is more than an ascent in the world rankings. In an effort to make an impact on Israeli baseball culture, Kremer organizes youth camps, much like those in the U.S., to nurture a passion for the sport among Israeli kids and families.

“I hope that any success that I have here [with the Dodgers] can be translated to Hebrew,” he said with a laugh. “I hope to help grow the game in Israel, and I want to show the Israeli kids that it can be done.”

As Kremer’s professional career progresses with the Dodger organization, his other home country follows along intently. 

“Whatever I do, they’ll feel like I’m ‘first.’ They watch. And a ton of kids that I’ve been working with ask about me and keep track; I’m still in contact with everyone over there,” he said.

As the young right-hander sets his sights on a major league path, he is optimistic that he will be welcomed into the baseball world, as well as in the Dodger organization.

“So much of the Dodger fan base and the community is Jewish, so that link makes this even more special,” Kremer said. “You know, I’ve never played on Yom Kippur, never
will … so I hope they’ll understand. I think they will.”

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