Orioles Reinstate Dean Kremer After 9-Week Absence, DFA Dom Keegan

Q: With a soaring strikeout rate, can former top prospect Dom Keegan salvage his career on a new team?

Yes, but only if a new club treats him as a reclamation project rather than near-term big league help. Keegan is still just 25, has minor league options, and plays a position where organizations are always searching for depth. That gives him a chance. Even after being designated for assignment by Tampa Bay and then Baltimore within a week, he still offers some appeal because catchers with raw power are hard to find. Reports on him have pointed to usable pop, strong hard-hit data in prior looks, and enough patience to keep drawing walks; his 14.5% walk rate this year is a real positive. The problem is that the bat has backed up badly. In 51 Triple-A games this season, he hit .191/.327/.303 with a 36.9% strikeout rate, up from an already high 30.6% at Triple-A last year. Since reaching Triple-A, he has struck out 170 times in 511 plate appearances. That level of swing-and-miss is difficult to carry, especially for a catcher whose defense is also under scrutiny. Evaluators have raised concerns about his arm strength and pitch framing, which means he cannot rely on glove value alone to stay on a roster. So the path is narrow but not closed. A new team could justify a claim because of his age, options, makeup and positional scarcity. But salvaging his career will likely require meaningful contact gains and at least modest defensive improvement before he can re-emerge as a credible major league option.

3 articles · Updated · MLB Trade Rumors · Jul 1

Dean Kremer was activated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and is set to start against the White Sox, returning after a nine-week layoff caused by a significant right quadriceps strain.
Baltimore cleared room by designating catcher Dom Keegan for assignment, while also recalling right-hander Cameron Weston from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Trey Gibson and Josh Walker.
Kremer, 30, has made only two starts this season, but since his 2022 breakout he has posted a 3.95 ERA and gives Baltimore a steadier back-end option.
The rotation has been stretched by injuries and inconsistency: Chris Bassitt is on the injured list after back surgery, Zach Eflin is out for the season, and top prospect Gibson has logged an ERA above 7.00 in seven starts.
Keegan, 25, was claimed off waivers just last week and never appeared in a game for the Orioles; despite a .191/.327/.303 start in Triple-A, his catching depth and remaining options could still draw interest.