WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - NICARAGUA VS ISRAEL

March 8, 2026

Dean Kremer

LoanDepot Park

Team Israel

Postgame Press Conference

Israel 5, Nicaragua 0

Q. What does it mean for Team Israel to have -- you're automatically qualified for the next WBC. What does it mean for both the future on building the sport both here for Jews and in Israel?

DEAN KREMER: It's huge not to have to go through qualifying again, for not only us as a team but the country as a whole. I'm more than proud to represent.

Q. You've very much embraced your heritage as a Jew and have gotten Israeli citizenship and everything. What is your message to everybody in Israel right now going through what's been going on?

DEAN KREMER: It's not the first time that they've had to deal with this and probably won't be the last time. But they're a strong group of people. We're a very resilient group of people. My family over there holding tight as best as possible. They're just staying strong.

Q. This being your third time in the World Baseball Classic, how proud are you of your performance throughout the three times you've been in the WBC, being able to represent Israel?

DEAN KREMER: I mean, representing my home is one of the greatest pride and honor that I can ever do on a baseball field. As much as I enjoy playing in the Big Leagues, there's just something different about playing in this tournament and playing in tournaments in Europe and getting to represent the home country.

Q. What worked so well for you those first four innings? Brad said maybe you just got a little tired in the fifth.

DEAN KREMER: Yeah, I mean, my last outing in camp was four and 50 something, so was efficient enough to allow myself to go back out there. I gave it a shot.

Q. What was going well for you during those four? What did you feel like you were doing?

DEAN KREMER: C.J. and I and Brad put together a decent plan and executed it as best we could, and reading swings and really just kind of rolling with pitch to pitch.

Q. What runs through your mind when you watch that double play mid-inning?

DEAN KREMER: I don't know that I've ever yelled like that before. I don't usually get super hyped, but that one was different.