Kremer wins O's '23 ping-pong title: 'It means everything'

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Seats were lined up in two rows (one on each side), facing the middle of the Orioles' clubhouse. An intense match was taking place.

The spectators held their breath on each point. It may as well been Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

In reality, it was Dean Kremer vs. Ryan O'Hearn in the championship of the O's 2023 Spring Training ping-pong tournament. And nearly everybody at the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Thursday morning was heavily invested in the result.

The best-of-three bout lived up to the team's lofty expectations. Kremer took the first game quite handily, but O'Hearn answered with an impressive second-game victory. At this point, the crowd grew larger.

Utility man Terrin Vavra roped in more teammates to fill the seats on both sides of the table. Kyle Gibson, seated at his locker nearby, was Kremer's biggest supporter, trying to pump him up with words of encouragement. Ryan Mountcastle led a group of position players backing O'Hearn, a non-roster first baseman/outfielder.

O'Hearn gave it his best, but he was no match for Kremer, who slammed home several impressive shots to put away his opponent in decisive fashion.

A championship victory is always followed by an interview with the media, of course.

"It means everything," Kremer said. "We worked so hard for this all offseason. And I mean, Ryan put up a really good fight. Had me a little nervous there in the second, but we pulled through."

Kremer acknowledged his path to the title this spring wasn't easy. Earlier in the tournament, he defeated Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday, the two youngest of the 71 players in Baltimore's camp at 21 and 19, respectively. Kremer also beat non-roster catcher Mark Kolozsvary, a "pretty solid player," per Kremer.

But Kremer's offseason work with the paddle made the difference in his championship run.

"I really made sure I hammered out my backhand; that was my weakness," Kremer said. "Today, it didn’t show up, but I had the forehand, so we were OK."

Kremer isn't sticking around to gloat. The 27-year-old right-hander was scheduled to leave camp later Thursday for Miami, where he's joining Team Israel to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

When Kremer returns, though, he knows he now has a target on his back at the ping-pong table.

"The tournament’s one of the most important things here," Kremer said. "Glad I pulled it out."