Every team needs a guy who can spend most of the year in the minors and comes up to the big leagues to fill in for someone who is hurt or to help the rest of the rotation get another day of rest. As a team, you could do worse than to have lefty Cade Povich in that position.
After making 16 starts in 2024 and 20 starts in 2025 for the Orioles, Povich couldn't crack the Orioles' starting rotation out of Spring Training in 2026. It's not surprising. While Povich showed flashes of brilliance over the previous two years, he was mostly quite bad. His ERA was over 5 both seasons. He walked too many guys and allowed too many homers.
With Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt added to the team, there was no room for Povich in the rotation. Heck, there wasn't even room for Dean Kremer. And so off Triple-A Norfolk Povich went.
Povich's 2026 debut came on March 31st with the Norfolk Tides. It was not good. He struck out eight and didn't walk anyone, but he allowed five runs in five innings and gave up two home runs. Even so, he was the first man up when Zach Eflin went onto the IL after just one start.
Povich only appeared in eight games with the Orioles, and he never made more than two appearances in a row before being sent back to the minors. He was truly a use in case of emergency kind of guy.
His first stint with the team lasted two games, and he was actually pretty good. On April 5th, he relieved Bassitt in the third inning and pitched 5.2 strong with two runs. His next appearance was an excellent game against the Giants. Povich pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just one run.
Despite the limited success, Povich was sent back to the minors the day after his second start. The Orioles needed a starter for the next day, so they swapped him with Kremer. He wasn't down long, though. After two starts at Triple-A, Povich was right back on the big league roster.
He might have lasted longer in this stint, but in his second start back, he was pulled after just three innings. He had forearm soreness, which, luckily for him, did not send him to Tommy John surgery. It did cause him to miss quite a bit of time. By the time he healed, rehabbed, and was back with the Tides, he was almost two months later.
By early July, the Orioles rotation was solidified with Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Kremer, Brandon Young, and Shane Baz. So Povich settled into Norfolk's rotation, although he didn't have a very impressive stretch. Over five starts, he had an ERA over 7. He only had two true clunkers, but failed to pitch deep into games and gave up a bunch of homers. If he was angling for a call-up, he wasn't doing a very good job.
He got called back up at the beginning of August anyway. Somebody had to pitch after Kremer was traded to the Twins, so Povich it was. And in his start on August 4th against the Angels, he was very good. He pitched six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and earned himself another look. But once again, he was gone after two starts. It had to be frustrating to him. Bassit was returning to the rotation, so someone had to go.
Povich got two more starts with the Orioles after that. He was back for just one day on August 31st to start against the Rockies, and again on September 18th against the Brewers.
Altogether, Povich had five stints with the Orioles, five stints with the Tides, and one rehab stint with the Chesapeake Baysox. In 13 starts with the Tides, he had a 6.28 ERA. He struck out over 10 batters per nine innings, but allowed 17 homers in just 61.2 innings.
In eight games with the Orioles, Povich pitched 37 innings with a 4.38 ERA. He struck out 28, which was just 6.8 per nine innings. But he only allowed six home runs! Small victories.
Cade Povich turns 27 years old just after Opening Day 2027. He is no longer a prospect, and he was never a top prospect. He struggled mightily in Triple-A, especially with the long ball.
It's hard to judge his MLB season with the way he was moved up and down, but it's hard to envision him having a place in the Orioles' Major League rotation. Since Povich was shut out of the Opening Day rotation in 2026, the Orioles have lost (or will lose after the World Series) Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Chris Bassitt, and Zach Eflin.
They still have Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, and Brandon Young but will have to build out the rest. If they end up filling those spots with Povich and/or Trey Gibson, it will be hard to take them seriously as a team that intends to contend.
Povich could be included in a trade, but in my opinion, he will, in 2027, fill a similar role to the one he did in 2026. It's probably what he is best suited for. I'd love for him to prove me wrong.
