Orioles fans go back a little ways with young Cade Povich. Acquired along with Yennier Cano and two long-forgotten pitchers, fans hoped GM Mike Elias’ acquisition of this lanky lefty ahead of the trade deadline in 2022 was going to be a steal.
After the trade, Povich made two starts for High-A Aberdeen before being promoted to what was then called Double-A Bowie, where he made six appearances (five starts). His ERA in 23.1 innings for the Baysox was a very unsteal-looking 6.94. However, his WHIP was a much more impressive 1.37.
The Orioles sent the 6-foot-3, 185-pound lefty back to Double-A to begin 2023. His results were much more impressive: 18 starts, 81 innings, 4.87 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 118 strikeouts. Povich’s work at Bowie got him lifted up to Triple-A Norfolk for 10 starts. His 5.36 ERA was high, but in 45 innings, he struck out 53 batters and had a WHIP of 1.35.
Povich began 2024 back with the Tides and made 11 starts, posting a 3.18 ERA. That performance got him his first big league opportunity. Between June 6 and July 29, he made eight starts covering 37.1 innings. He posted a 6.27 ERA and walked 23 hitters. Opposing batters hit .270/.371/.500.
After being sent back down for more seasoning, Povich was called back up on Aug. 17. His next three starts were more of the same: 14.2 innings, 24 hits and a 7.36 ERA. Suddenly, he was becoming more suspect than prospect. And then a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line.
In his last five starts covering 27.2 innings, Povich pitched to an ERA of 2.60 to lower his season-long ERA to 5.20. During those 27.2 innings, he struck out 32 and walked just eight. It all added it up to a 0.86 WHIP.
Coming into Sarasota in February, the numbers game didn’t seem to work in Povich’s favor prior to Grayson Rodriguez’s injury. But the lefty’s confidence, audacity and determination added up to a wonderful spring: four starts, 14.2 innings, 3.07 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. It came down to Povich and Albert Suárez for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, with Povich earning the role.
That all quickly became a moot point when Suárez came down with a complicated shoulder injury that will most likely torpedo him until August. Povich has made three starts to date but has only reached the fifth inning once, when he threw six innings in Kansas City. His ERA is 3.60, but his WHIP is 1.80.
Povich is still young — he just turned 25 — but he’s pitching too much like he did during his first cup of coffee in the big leagues. He is still throwing too many pitches to really eat up innings and not pitching with quite enough conviction.
There comes a time when a young player needs to throw all the nervousness and uncertainty out the window and just do it for real.
Of all the warts the Orioles have shown in their first 15 games, they have only really had one starter grab the bull by the horns: Zach Eflin. And now, he joins Rodriguez, Suárez, Kyle Bradish, Chayce McDermott, Trevor Rogers and Tyler Wells on the injured list.
It’s high time for Povich to step up and say, “I am Cade Povich and I am a solid major league starter.” This is his moment and his club needs him.
He has to start throwing like he believes that.
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