During his ALDS Game 3 start against the Rangers, Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer wore a Star of David necklace with a few of his family still in Israel as Hamas launched a deadly attack on the country.
Kremer, a dual Israeli-American citizen, made history Tuesday by becoming the primary Israeli pitcher to begin a playoff game.
Despite the right-hander struggling in the beginning by which he allowed six runs in 1²/₃ innings within the Orioles’ 7-1 season-ending loss to the Rangers, a former teammate of his believes Kremer must be happy with what he did, considering the circumstances he finds his family in.
Brandon Gold, a former Rockies prospect and teammate of Kremer’s on Israel’s 2023 World Baseball Classic team, had words of encouragement.
“The very fact you were in a position to step on the mound tonight and compete in your brothers while your loved ones is in a war zone is beyond impressive,” Gold wrote in an Instagram story.
After the beginning, Kremer, 27, focused on his disappointment that his and the Orioles’ season was coming to an end.
“This sense sucks. On the brilliant side, that is our first taste of the postseason. Just about everyone on this clubhouse is coming back. So lots of good years to stay up for,” he said.
Worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we came
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three a long time after winning the territory from Egypt within the Six-Day War.
2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.
2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches the most important attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 700 Israelis are dead, over 2,150 are wounded and at the least 100 were taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired 1000’s of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the road in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We’re at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at the least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured.
Kremer, a native of Stockton, California, told reporters Monday that the conflict in Israel was “going to be at the back of my head,” though his family was doing OK.
Despite that, when asked by manager Brandon Hyde if he was comfortable pitching given the stressful situation, Kremer had no issues with toeing the slab.
“Gave him my support and sympathies for him and his family that’s involved, and he seemed OK,” Hyde said Monday, in response to the Associated Press.
Kremer became the primary Israeli player ever drafted in 2015 when he was chosen by the Padres, though he didn’t sign.
A 12 months later, he joined an enormous league club after he was taken within the 14th round by the Dodgers.
In 2018, he was traded in a blockbuster deal that sent him to the Orioles and Manny Machado to Los Angeles.
Kremer pitched for Israel within the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and 2023, the previous reaching the second round of the tournament.
