The Orioles are calling up pitching prospects Kade Povich to start tomorrow’s playoff game against the Blue Jays, manager Brandon Hyde told the team’s rhythm (X link via Danielle Allentuck of the Baltimore Banner). Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reported this morning (in X) that Povich was meeting the group in Toronto, initially as a member of the taxi crew.
The 6’3″ left-hander’s first call. Povich, a University of Nebraska product, was the Twins’ third-round pick in 2021. He was in High-A in the Minnesota organization when the O’s acquired him at the ’22 deadline. Baltimore sent it close Jorge Lópezthen in the middle of the All-Star season, to the Twin Cities for Yennier CanoPovich, and two other minor league pitchers.
The move was not unpopular among the clubhouse and a large portion of the fans considering the O’s were on the verge of playoff contention. However, it turned out to be an unquestionable victory for Baltimore, as Cano almost blossomed into one of the best assistants in the game. Povich, now 24, is one of the most talented hitters in their program.
Povich split last season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, logging 126 2/3 innings across 28 starts. A 5.04 cumulative earned run average isn’t all that impressive, but Povich was one of the best pitchers in the minors. He struck out 171 hitters, just behind Drew Thorpe again Tobias Myers among all minor league hitters. While that’s indicative of Povich’s durability, his 31.1% strikeout rate was also above average.
That continued over 11 starts with Norfolk in 2024, this time leading to a better run. Povich struck out 32.5% of the batters he faced en route to a 3.18 ERA in 56 2/3 innings. His 9.1% walk rate is a little higher than what a starting pitcher should be, but it’s an encouraging total all the same.
Povich isn’t the type of prospect that Baltimore’s most respected position players are (eg. Jackson Holiday, Coby Mayo). He is generally considered by testers to be a solid first ball. Baseball America and Keith Law of The Athletic ranked him in the back half of the O’s top 10 prospects for the offseason.
Law praised Povich’s changeup and curveball, while BA praised the arm-side run on his fastball. FanGraphs ranks him as the fifth-ranked prospect in the program and the #92 prospect overall, with deceptive praise for his delivery and collection of quick plays. Povich will need to continue to improve his pitching for strikes, but there is widespread agreement that he has the repertoire to be a major league starter.
He comes in and turns lost John Kusho and the swingman Tyler Wells elbow surgery last week. Baltimore works with the first five Corbin Burns, Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Cole Irvin again Albert Suarez. That’s right Dean Kremer sidelined by a triceps strain but could return this month. It’s a solid top three, but the depth of the rotation is a relative question mark on a very good team that’s off to a 39-21 start. The O’s will likely be linked to starting pitchers in trade rumors over the next two months.
Povich will look to do well early on as the front office evaluates their backcourt starters before the deadline. He’s not on the 40-man roster, but the O’s already have a spot open. They have the top 13 pitchers on the active roster, so they will need to send another pitcher tomorrow.
