During his ALDS Game 3 start against the Rangers, Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer wore a Star of David necklace with some 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 first Israeli pitcher to start a playoff game.
Despite the right-hander struggling in the start in which he allowed six runs in 1²/₃ innings in the Orioles’ 7-1 season-ending loss to the Rangers, a former teammate of his believes Kremer should be proud of 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 fact you were able to step on the mound tonight and compete for your brothers while your family is in a war zone is beyond impressive,” Gold wrote in an Instagram story.
After the start, Kremer, 27, focused on his disappointment that his and the Orioles’ season was coming to an end.
“This feeling sucks. On the bright side, this is our first taste of the postseason. Pretty much everyone in this clubhouse is coming back. So a lot of good years to look forward to,” he said.
Worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in 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 biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 700 Israelis are dead, over 2,150 are wounded and at least 100 were taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the street in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at 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 in the back of my head,” though his family was doing OK.
In spite of 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, according to the Associated Press.
Kremer became the first Israeli player ever drafted in 2015 when he was selected by the Padres, though he did not sign.
A year later, he joined a big league club after he was taken in 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 in the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and 2023, the former reaching the second round of the tournament.
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