WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D

March 5, 2026

Dean Kremer

LoanDepot Park

Team Israel

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Just wanted to ask, with everything going on in the world obviously right now, how proud are you to have Israel on your jersey?

DEAN KREMER: Always proud. This is year 12 for me wearing that jersey. Third time in this tournament, and every time I get to put it on, I'm more than happy and proud.

I know all my family back home, back there, is proud, as well. Just want to do right by them.

Q. You said it's your third time in this tournament. I don't know what we all expected when they came up with this concept, but I'm not sure we expected this. What were your expectations when you first heard that this was going to be a thing, and has it met them? Has it exceeded them? How would you summarize your experiences to this point?

DEAN KREMER: You mean the Classic as a whole?

Q. Yes, sir.

DEAN KREMER: I don't know, when was the first one?

Q. We don't see 35,000 people at games in Miami very often --

DEAN KREMER: Oh, you're talking --

Q. In fairness, you don't see energy around a lot of spring games, maybe a few here and there depending on the pitching matchup --

DEAN KREMER: Florida, Arizona, definitely a difference.

Q. Thank you for proving me wrong on a bunch of points. But still, we're not used to this. It's a great thing for baseball here. It's a great thing for baseball, period. Your first two experiences with it to this point, did it meet? Did it exceed? What were you expecting, and what was the net result in your mind of going through this a couple of times?

DEAN KREMER: Yeah, I think MLB played it right by who they have coming to this specific location. Last time it was the Dominican, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico were all here, as well as us. There's a big Israeli and Jewish community here, as well. Not just the Latin cultures, but all three as well as Nicaragua. I think they played it right by having all four of those Latin American countries here to get the best result and venue.

It's really loud here when it's full. Even when it's semi-full, it still gets pretty loud here. I think they've done a really good job with -- go ahead.

Q. Do you have any recollections of watching Ohtani versus Trout and that moment here?

DEAN KREMER: I was back at Spring Training by that point.

Q. Did you watch?

DEAN KREMER: We watched it on TV, so we didn't get to experience the loudness, but when it place is full, it's an electric environment. I've been fortunate enough to be at a couple playoff games, one inside a dome, one outside a dome. It was as much of that as anywhere else. Even in my first one, got to play in Korea and Japan, and same thing. Those places are packed, and when they're packed, it's very loud.

But it's awesome.

Q. As the only player in that locker room that has been to two previous World Baseball Classics, how much responsibility do you feel towards preparing the rest of the group for what to expect in terms of atmosphere and play style and all those different aspects?

DEAN KREMER: Not a whole lot. These guys are all professionals, and they're all very good in their own regards.

But I'm always open to answer questions or to answer anything that they may have, try to impart any sort of wisdom if I have any.

It's a good group, from what I've seen so far. It looks like we're going to have a lot of fun.

Q. I know you're not going to pitch against the Dominican, but you've faced pretty much all those hitters. When you look at that lineup, it's like an All-Star team. What advice would you have for whoever does draw that assignment?

DEAN KREMER: Know the scouting reports for sure. Do your homework prior. Don't just wing it.

They're going to be a good lineup. Venezuela is going to be a good lineup. USA is stacked. Japan will be really good. All of them have exceeded expectations in terms of lineup construction and even the pitching department as well.

This year they've gotten a lot more bigger name guys to commit across the board. So I think the tournament as a whole is going to be a lot of fun.

Q. For the pitchers on your team that are going to face Venezuela and the Dominican, will you sit down and try to help them with some of the scouting reports?

DEAN KREMER: Yeah, I mean, I can help a little bit, and our pitching coach, Brad Goldberg, he's also pitched in the Big Leagues a little bit, and he's the Guardians' bullpen coach. He's got plenty of experience, as well, putting scouting reports together for those guys.

I think we're going to give them hell.

Q. As someone who has perhaps a broader connection to Israel like you, how do you hope that this tournament, Israel's participation, helps inspire the growth of the game back in Israel?

DEAN KREMER: I mean, I definitely hope -- every year I've gone back, it's grown a little bit more and more. Even from when I started back in '13 or -- yeah, '11 or '13 -- it's grown tremendously. The plan is to continue to put our name on the map and show the kids that you can achieve your dreams.