Orioles recall Dean Kremer from Norfolk to start against Arizona

Dean Kremer is back in Baltimore’s rotation, and the Orioles are sending the veteran right-hander to start against Arizona after the club sent him to minor league camp on March 22.

The reversal came after Baltimore opened the season with five starters instead of six, a decision driven by April’s off-days and bullpen concerns. Mike Elias wanted the staff to stay fresh enough to attack the schedule, and the Orioles had already shifted Zach Eflin into Kremer’s spot after saying he had checked every box in spring training. Cade Povich was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk in the corresponding move, clearing a path for Kremer to return.

Norfolk, though, gave Baltimore enough reason to act quickly. Kremer’s most recent outing there was sharp and efficient, a 4.2-inning scoreless start with six strikeouts. For a pitcher who spent much of the previous six seasons as a fixture in Baltimore’s rotation, that kind of outing made the decision harder to ignore.

The Orioles know exactly what they are getting back. Kremer led the club with 11 wins in 2025 and paced the staff with 171 2/3 innings, proof that he was more than a fill-in and more than a short-term arm. Over his major league career, he has logged a 4.26 ERA across 671 2/3 innings in 126 games, including 123 starts. That volume matters for a Baltimore club trying to balance workload, bullpen usage and early-season stability without stretching its relief corps too thin.

Manager Craig Albernaz called it a difficult call and said the move was best for both Kremer and the team, which is fitting for a rotation that has already been asked to absorb one major rethink in April. The Orioles are still sorting out their long-term shape, but Kremer’s return suggests there is still faith in his ability to give them real innings when they need them most.

The recall also carried broader significance. Kremer remains one of the 10 Jewish players in Major League Baseball and is set to pitch for Team Israel in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he is expected to be one of the headliners alongside Harrison Bader and Garrett Stubbs. For Baltimore, the immediate priority is simpler: get a proven starter back on the mound and hope the pause in Norfolk sharpened him for the stretch ahead.