On 6 September, Dean Kramer became the second Israeli citizen to play Major League Baseball, following catcher Ryan Lavarnway, who gained Israeli citizenship in 2019 and has played this year with the Miami Marlins.
Kremer, a 24-year old right-handed pitcher born in California, made a sparkling Major League Baseball (MLB) debut. He went six innings, allowing only one hit and three walks to a powerful New York Yankees lineup. Three relievers helped him celebrate his first MLB win, 5-1.
Both Kramer's parents, Adi and Sigal, are Israeli. After they completed their service in the Israel Defense Forces, they moved to the United States.
Dean grew up in California but had his Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish coming of age ritual for boys, in Israel. After he graduated from Lincoln High School in 2013, Kremer pitched in the Maccabiah Games or Jewish Olympics, helping his squad to win the gold medal.
After that, Kremer committed to the Israeli National Team. He pitched in 2014 and 2015 for Israel in two different qualifying rounds of the Baseball European Championship 2016. He lost the final game against Sweden.
Kremer helped Israel qualify for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He contributed to the team that swept Group A and made it to the Second Round.
Kremer originally signed (US$ 147,500 bonus) with the MLB Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016. In July 2018, he was part of the package of players that the Dodgers dealt with the Baltimore Orioles to acquire superstar Manny Machado.
Kramer was promoted to Triple A in 2019. During 2020 Spring Training he impressed the staff of the Orioles and was added to the 60-player pool.
Related articles:
Jon Moscot will play for Israel in Tokyo
Israel's historic first in Olympic Baseball
