Dean Kremer was at a crossroads when he began the season on the injured list.
After struggling at the major league level last season, he needed to change his approach and prove to the organization that he could be a mainstay in the starting rotation.
Kremer changed his approach to the game, which has helped him emerge as one of the Orioles’ most reliable pitchers. He has thrown 18.2 scoreless innings during his last three starts.
“I think the change in mentality is definitely helping,” Kremer said. “I just kind of, I don’t want to say forget about the guys on base, but kind of like, ‘OK, my priority’s at the plate.’ I care about the guys on base, but my priority’s at the plate.”
Kremer has come a long way. He went 0-7 with a 7.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 13 starts last season. Nonetheless, Kremer was poised to earn a spot in the bottom of the rotation out of spring training but he suffered a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen during the team’s third game on April 10 at Tampa Bay.
It was a challenge both physically and mentally.
Kremer made his season debut with the Orioles on June 5 in a 3-2 loss against the Cleveland Guardians. He allowed a three-run homer to Andrés Giménez in the first inning but then got into a groove, retiring 10 of his final 12 batters.
In the past month, he has gone 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA during five starts. He is striking out fewer hitters (19) than in the past but his allowing fewer walks (7). Last season, he allowed 4.2 walks per nine innings, compared to 2.3 this year.
“I see a lot more confidence this year,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “The stuff has always been there, now he’s commanding stuff better, really because of his confidence.”
“I think it’s more strikes,” Hyde added. “I’m more concerned about their strike-throwing ability than I am the punchouts.”
Another key for Kremer is his ability to stay away from the middle of the plate, which has helped cut down on the number of home runs he’s given up. Last season, he allowed almost three home runs per nine innings, but he has cut that number down to 0.3 in 2022.
Kremer is also letting the players behind him do their jobs, and the Orioles have been one of the best defensive teams in MLB this year.
“I feel like there are less consequences of throwing balls in the zone where I can just let them hit it and then have the defense go and get it, because that’s what they’re doing right now,” he said.
In a year full of surprises, Kremer might be the biggest of them all, The Orioles are certainly ecstatic with his recent performances. The goal is to maintain that consistency,
“I’m really happy and encouraged by how he’s throwing the ball,” Hyde said.
Rutschman Shines
It didn’t take long for Adley Rutschman to adjust to life in the big leagues.
The Orioles catcher has slashed .290/.343/.597 (18-for-62) with 10 doubles, three home runs, 10 runs scored, nine RBIs and five walks in his past 17 games. He had a seven-game on-base streak snapped June 29 against Seattle.
Rutschman recorded an extra-base hit in six straight games from June 21-27, tied with Ryan Mountcastle (2021) and Chito Martínez (1991) for the longest such streak by a rookie in Orioles history (since 1954).
On June 28, Rutschman homered in front of a throng of family and friends during a 9-2 victory in Seattle on June 28.
“There was a big Rutschman section above our dugout, you could see a lot of orange,” Hyde said. “What a great moment for him to come back to the Northwest and deliver like that.”
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