Orioles Option Cade Povich to Triple-A Norfolk to Finalize Rotation

Baltimore optioned left-hander Cade Povich to Triple-A Norfolk on March 15, slotting the 25-year-old directly into the Tides' rotation as the Orioles locked in their Opening Day plans.

The move was largely expected. Writing from Sarasota on March 7, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com had already flagged Povich as the most likely candidate to anchor Norfolk's staff if a spot in Baltimore's rotation didn't open up. With veterans Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin entrenched at the major league level, the math simply didn't work in Povich's favor.

Last season with the Orioles, Povich posted a 3-8 record and a 5.21 ERA across 22 appearances and 20 starts, with two additional outings out of the bullpen. His spring, however, told a more encouraging story. In two starts, he allowed just one run on two hits across 5 1/3 innings. His outing against the Twins was representative of the form: 3 1/3 innings, one run, one hit, one walk, and one strikeout. Whether the Orioles' transaction entry crediting him with three spring starts reflects an additional appearance between March 7 and March 15 is worth confirming against Grapefruit League logs, but the directional improvement was clear either way.

Povich spoke openly about what had changed in camp. "That just makes the pitching staff and the rotation better whether it's velocity or commanding pitches, controlling the zone like Alby says, 'controlling the line of scrimmage,'" he said. "It helps in all aspects." He also described a clubhouse environment where competition and genuine support coexisted. "If the competition is like, 'I'm trying to beat this guy,' it's not friendly, but with this group of guys, in this clubhouse, we're competing, but we're also rooting for each other."

Manager Craig Albernaz left the door open for a different path if Norfolk doesn't go as planned. "Yes, he's on the starter path, but everything is on the table," Albernaz said. "We can always pivot and see what happens in the bullpen. Right now, starting role, and see how things shake out."

The Tides' rotation figures to be a notable step up from recent seasons. Trey Gibson, the organization's minor league pitcher of the year in 2025, remained in major league camp as of March 7. Nestor German and Levi Wells, both of whom finished last season with Norfolk, were also still on the big league roster bubble at that point, with Brandon Young having already been reassigned to minor league camp. Povich joins a system that is deepening at the pitching staff level, even if his own ambitions remain fixed on earning a rotation spot back in Baltimore.