A couple years ago, Orioles GM Mike Elias made a trade that would reshape the Orioles’ pitching staff.
All-Star closer Jorge Lopez, along with cash, was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for future All-Star Yennier Canó and pitching prospects Cade Povich, Juan Rojas and Juan Nunez.
We all know how Canó became one of the best set-up men in the game and how Lopez circled back for a return stint with Orioles the following season. One player of the trade who was the centerpiece by Elias, was the left-hander Povich, the Orioles’ current No. 9 prospect.
A former third-round pick out of Nebraska, the tall and lanky lefty possessed a power fastball that hits the top of the zone and misses a lot of bats. His changeup and slider are strong secondary pitches, when he commands them, and his curveball is a good compliment as well.
Povich, in 2022, was a pitcher with all the tools, who just needed some refining in order to make it all work. As he moved through each level, you could see the development and the knowledge grow based on his struggles and how he improved each go around.
This season, Povich has arguably been the best pitcher for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, posting a 5-1 record across 11 games, all starts. Through 56.2 innings, Povich has posted a 3.18 ERA while holding batters to a .203 batting average. He has a strong 1.11 WHIP, with a strikeout to walk ratio better than 3:1 (75:21).
Povich did struggle a little bit in May but still is 3-0 across six starts. One of the biggest improvements the 24-year-old has made is his walks rate, as he has not allowed more than two walks in his last five starts.
Across 67 minor league games (65 starts), Povich is 23-21 with a 4.36 ERA through 307.1 innings of work. He has struck out 413 batters and has allowed just 128 walks while holding opponents to a .218 average and accumulating a 1.23 WHIP.
Per MASN’s Roch Kubatko, Povich will join the Orioles on their taxi squad Wednesday and is expected to be activated to start the final game of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday afternoon.
Welcome to the big leagues, Cade. All of us at The Baltimore Battery wish him well on his journey with the team.
What are your thoughts on this call-up?
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