7. Dean Kremer, RHP
Birthday: 1/7/1996 (22)
Acquired: Trade with LAD, 2018
Level(s): AA Bowie
Statistics: (combined with Dodgers org) 25 G, 131 1/3 IP, 2.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 8.6% BB, 33.3% K
Dean Kremer was a rare California pitcher not drafted at all out of high school, but he went to UNLV and changed that, as the Dodgers drafted him in the 14th round in 2016. Kremer’s been working between the rotation and bullpen his first two years, but he took a big step forward in 2018.
Starting his season in the hitter-friendly California League, Kremer was dominant on the mound, earning a move to AA, where he struck out 11 over 7 innings in his first AA start in the Dodgers system before the Baltimore Orioles acquired him as part of the Manny Machado deal.
Kremer doesn’t use a high-velocity mix to dominate hitters, instead utilizing a good four-pitch mix keyed by a fastball that touches 95-96 and sits 91-93. His curve is at least a plus pitch and perhaps even a plus-plus pitch. However, the ability to sequence his four pitches are why he’s having success now and continued having success against upper minors hitters after his promotion, both with the Dodgers and Orioles organizations.
The jump of his performance isn’t likely to indicate Kremer is now an ace, but he certainly could be a mid-rotation arm and has moved his timeline up. The Orioles could open him in AAA in 2019 with a chance to get some major league starts by the end of the season.