Cody Kremer signs a national letter of intent with the University of Georgia at a ceremoney held at Adairsville High on Thursday. Also pictured are, from left, seated, Carley Kremer, sister; Jim Kremer, father; Kelly Kremer, mother; Jenette Stegall, nanny; standing, Johnny Gulledge, Adairsville athletic director; Kim Knight, faculty adviser; Albert Cox, team chaplain; Eric Bishop, Adairsville baseball coach; and Eddie Chastain, assistant principal.
DAVID ROYAL/The Daily Tribune News
Kremer on Thursday signed a national letter of intent to play for the Bulldogs, a traditional SEC power. He joins Collin Barber, a Cartersville High football player, as the second Bartow County athlete to commit to the Bulldogs.
Kremer said he chose Georgia because he felt comfortable at the school. “Every time I visited Georgia, I felt like I was at home. The atmosphere was amazing, the people there, the coaches, the players.
“I feel very honored and blessed to be able to play baseball, the game I love, at a program like that. I’m excited to play for a coach like (Georgia head baseball coach) David Perno. He’s a great coach. He’s been there a while and knows how to win.”
Eric Bishop, Kremer’s high school baseball coach, said the Bulldogs are getting a player who already has a lot of the attributes necessary for success in the Southeastern Conference, whose teams frequently play for and claim national championships in baseball.
“First of all, he has a tremendous work ethic on the field and in the weight room,” Bishop said. “A lot of people don’t realize just how much is asked of baseball players at this level, but I think Cody’s already prepared to give what it takes.
“Secondly, he’s such a great competitor. He just thrives on playing against others. He feeds on it. I believe those two things have been the recipe for success for Cody Kremer.”
Bishop also cited Kremer’s baseball skills, as a pitcher and a hitter, for making him highly sought-after on the diamond.
The Adairsville senior earned a 6-2 record with two saves while throwing 100 strikes — averaging almost two per inning his junior year — with a sterling 1.54 ERA in 56 and two-thirds innings of work.
He was a reliever his earlier years, with a 2-0 record and seven saves — tallying a 1.69 ERA and 38 strikeouts while pitching 26 2/3 innings as a sophomore and earning a 2-0 record with five saves as a freshman, with a 1.89 ERA.
The Tiger hurler has command of four pitches — a fast ball that Bishop said ranges from 91 to 93 mph, a slider he learned from Adairsville baseball guru Chad Parker, a curve ball and a changeup.
Kremer, who also plays third base for the Tigers, is a power hitter. As a junior, he batted .428 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs. He stole 17 bases. His sophomore year he was .407 at the plate with seven home runs and 26 RBIs while stealing 11 bases. He hit .386 as a freshman, with six home runs and nine stolen bases.
He is the first Tiger baseball star under Bishop to sign with the Dogs or an SEC school.
Bishop said Kremer is known for his fast ball but is complete pitcher. He said as a junior his use of other pitches resulted in his lowering his ERA while improving his strikeout numbers.
“He just has a gift with his right arm,” the coach said, who began working with Kremer his freshman year. “You knew a long, long time ago that he’d be a good one.”
Other schools considered by Kremer included Kennesaw State University, the University of Kentucky and Troy University.
“Georgia was always at the top for me. I made my decision to go to Georgia on spring break,” Kremer recalled.
The Tiger baseball star said the sport has been a lifelong passion.
“I started playing baseball probably from the time I started walking,” he said. “My dad [Adairsville head football coach Jim Kremer] would have a little wiffle ball and throw it up for me to hit. We’d hit and play catch all the time.”
Kremer started playing baseball at about age 6, noting he played for baseball travel teams coached by his dad until he was 14.
“I played for the East Cobb Astros when I was 14,” he said. “We actually won a national championship with the Elite 24.”
He joined the Adairsville baseball program as a freshman, after his dad was hired to coach the Tiger football team.
Kremer also plays football — he quarterbacks for his dad on the Tigers, who are in the state playoffs — and said he has enjoyed both sports. “I realized probably after my freshman year in high school I wanted to be a college baseball player. I love football, but baseball is my passion.”
Kremer said he got the attention of the Bulldogs when his travel team — the Sarta Reds — played in Athens. He said his final game of that visit was seen by Bulldog coaches.
Kremer said he pitched for the Bulldogs last Christmas and they expressed a serious interest in him as a player. He said he decided last spring break to orally commit to playing for Georgia and signed his letter of intent Thursday.
The Tiger will complete his high career with Adairsville in the spring.