Cade Povich

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Povich was enjoying a strong season at High-A in 2022 when the Orioles acquired him as a key piece in a four-player return from the Twins for all-star closer Jorge Lopez. He improved even more after the trade as he began to use a cutter, and then spent all of 2023 in the high minors. Povich struck out 31.1% of batters at Double-A and Triple-A--the sixth-highest rate among qualified full-season pitchers--but saw his results dip a bit at Triple-A Norfolk.
  
  Scouting Report: Povich’s best pitch is his tailing four-seam fastball, which averaged 92 mph and was up to 95 with the potential to be above-average for its ability to generate swinging strikes up in the zone as well as ground balls. He used his high-80s cutter more in 2023, especially as a swing-and-miss weapon to lefthanded hitters, and he deemphasized his sweeper to save it more for putaway situations. Both pitches have above-average potential, and his big 74-77 mph curveball is also a weapon to batters of both hands. Povich’s changeup made strides in 2023, especially in Triple-A, and can be an average weapon to righties. The key will be commanding those pitches in the strike zone, where his stuff plays well.
  
  The Future: Povich has a path to becoming a quality No. 4 starter in a major league rotation as he continues to refine his repertoire and maintain his ability to get outs in the zone with five pitches. He could push for a major league opportunity in 2024, though he’ll start back at Triple-A Norfolk.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Povich made the kind of gains teams hope for when drafting pitchability lefties in his first pro season, as he went from consistently sitting in the high-80s to comfortably pitching in the low-90s and topping out at 97 mph in his first full season. The Twins unlocked some of his potential in his full-season debut, then traded him as part of a four-pitcher package to bring back Orioles closer Jorge Lopez at the deadline. Povich was the organization's minor league pitcher of the month in August and finished at Double-A Bowie.
  
  Scouting Report: His ability to fill up the strike zone with an impressive pitch mix was evident from early on in his time with the Orioles. The fastball has riding life and late bore, making it hard for hitters to square up, perhaps because they have so many other pitches to consider. Povich features a 1-7 curveball that sits in the mid-70s with big shape; it's used interchangeably with his sweepy slider. A low-80s plus sweeper that plays to hitters on both sides of the plate. Both pitches can drive swings and misses, as well as chases. Povich re-introduced his high-80s cutter after the trade with immediate success. His average changeup gives him another look against right-handers heavy lineups.
  
  The Future: The diversity of his pitch mix as well as his ability to throw them for strikes and chase make Povich an effective starting candidate provided he sustains the gains he made on his fastball. The Orioles will likely have him back at Bowie to begin 2023 in an effort to get him to the big leagues in the rotation quickly.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Cutter: 45 Control: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #273 prospect in 2021 draft
  The 6-foot-3, 185-pound southpaw had a lot of success at Nebraska this season, posting a 2.82 ERA over 13 starts and 73.1 innings, walking 19 and striking out 79 for the Huskers. Povich can run his fastball up to 93 mph and he gets swings and misses on it, but it sits in the upper 80s and questions remain about whether he can add strength to his frame and find more consistent velocity. If he can, the lefthander is a pretty good arm with the ability to spin a downer curveball and an average changeup to go along with the fastball. He throws strikes and some projection remains, but so do some questions.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Povich made the kind of gains teams hope for when drafting pitchability lefties in his first pro season, as he went from consistently sitting in the high-80s to comfortably pitching in the low-90s and topping out at 97 mph in his first full season. The Twins unlocked some of his potential in his full-season debut, then traded him as part of a four-pitcher package to bring back Orioles closer Jorge Lopez at the deadline. Povich was the organization's minor league pitcher of the month in August and finished at Double-A Bowie.
  
  Scouting Report: His ability to fill up the strike zone with an impressive pitch mix was evident from early on in his time with the Orioles. The fastball has riding life and late bore, making it hard for hitters to square up, perhaps because they have so many other pitches to consider. Povich features a 1-7 curveball that sits in the mid-70s with big shape; it's used interchangeably with his sweepy slider. A low-80s plus sweeper that plays to hitters on both sides of the plate. Both pitches can drive swings and misses, as well as chases. Povich re-introduced his high-80s cutter after the trade with immediate success. His average changeup gives him another look against right-handers heavy lineups.
  
  The Future: The diversity of his pitch mix as well as his ability to throw them for strikes and chase make Povich an effective starting candidate provided he sustains the gains he made on his fastball. The Orioles will likely have him back at Bowie to begin 2023 in an effort to get him to the big leagues in the rotation quickly.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Cutter: 45 Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Povich made the kind of gains teams hope for when drafting pitchability lefties in his first pro season, as he went from consistently sitting in the high-80s to comfortably pitching in the low-90s and topping out at 97 mph in his first full season. The Twins unlocked some of his potential in his full-season debut, then traded him as part of a four-pitcher package to bring back Orioles closer Jorge Lopez at the deadline. Povich was the organization's minor league pitcher of the month in August and finished at Double-A Bowie.
  
  Scouting Report: His ability to fill up the strike zone with an impressive pitch mix was evident from early on in his time with the Orioles. The fastball has riding life and late bore, making it hard for hitters to square up, perhaps because they have so many other pitches to consider. Povich features a 1-7 curveball that sits in the mid-70s with big shape; it's used interchangeably with his sweepy slider. A low-80s plus sweeper that plays to hitters on both sides of the plate. Both pitches can drive swings and misses, as well as chases. Povich re-introduced his high-80s cutter after the trade with immediate success. His average changeup gives him another look against right-handers heavy lineups.
  
  The Future: The diversity of his pitch mix as well as his ability to throw them for strikes and chase make Povich an effective starting candidate provided he sustains the gains he made on his fastball. The Orioles will likely have him back at Bowie to begin 2023 in an effort to get him to the big leagues in the rotation quickly.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Cutter: 45 Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  August Update: Acquired from the Twins in the trade that saw closer Jorge Lopez head to Minnesota, Povich was a 2021 third-rounder out of Nebraska and has shown good stuff as a professional with a standout sweepy slider, a low-90s fastball and average or better offerings in his curveball and changeup. He&#39s a lefty with a deep arsenal of weapons and good pitchability.