Orioles add Kremer to player pool and option Velázquez

Another Orioles prospect is taking a dip in the player pool.

The team announced today that right-hander Dean Kremer has been added to the 60-man pool and is headed to the alternate training site in Bowie.

Pitcher Hector Velázquez, viewed as a long relief candidate when summer training camp began, has been optioned to the alternate site. He's no longer in the running for a bullpen role.

Also, infielder Richie Martin has been placed on the 60-day injured list and removed from the player pool list. He'll undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his right wrist.

The 40-man roster is down to 37 players.

MLB.com ranks Kremer, 24, as the No. 9 prospect in the organization and Baseball America places him 11th. He posted a 2.98 ERA and 1.228 WHIP last summer with 87 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings at Double-A Bowie and an 8.84 ERA and 1.758 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings with Triple-A Norfolk.

The expectation is that Kremer will reach the majors later this summer. He would have been in Norfolk's rotation in April, but the minor league season was canceled.

The Orioles already have added catcher Adley Rutschman, outfielder/infielder Ryan Mountcastle, and pitchers Keegan Akin, Michael Baumann and Isaac Mattson to the pool. The group will shift to the Bowie site.

Left-hander DL Hall also is a candidate for the pool.

Velázquez is the first cut since players gathered at Camden Yards. He allowed two runs last night in the sixth inning of the intrasquad game and threw a round of live batting practice.

The Orioles claimed Velázquez off waivers from the Red Sox on March 8 and he was unable to pitch for them before the shutdown.

The summer training camp roster holds at 53 players and must get down to 30 for the July 24 opener.

Pitcher Ty Blach is coming off the pool list after undergoing Tommy John surgery Wednesday on his left elbow.

The alternate camp is expected to open Thursday morning at Prince George's Stadium.