Cade Povich quietly became the biggest story in Sarasota this season

The 24-year-old pitched his way into the starting rotation and shouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

They say no news is good news, and that’s almost always true during spring training. A healthy team feeds reporters fluff pieces on offseason workouts and nutrition plans. Unfortunately, injuries steal the show far too often.

The Orioles were unable to dodge those headlines this spring. Gunnar Henderson failed to make the Opening Day roster after straining an intercostal muscle. Grayson Rodriguez suffered from inflammation in his elbow, and new reliever Andrew Kittredge underwent a knee procedure that will require multiple months to recover.

These events definitely qualified as news and not the good kind either. However, if the projected recovery times hold true, they shouldn’t represent the biggest story stemming from Sarasota.

Rodriguez’s injury directly generated a two-man competition for the fifth spot in Baltimore’s rotation between Cade Povich and Albert Suárez. Chayce McDermott and Trevor Rogers were already ruled out with their own injuries, and the Orioles had four starters all but guaranteed to take the ball every fifth day.

Suárez appeared to be the early favorite. The 35-year-old journeyman earned the advantage by posting a 9-7 record and a 3.70 ERA over 133.2 innings last season. He benefited from an early opportunity after a slew of pitching injuries in 2024, and he took advantage when called upon. Brandon Hyde and Baltimore’s front office appeared confident that the righty could do it again.

Povich debuted on June 6 and posted a 3-9 record with a 5.20 ERA. Nobody expected a Paul Skenes-like debut from the former Minnesota prospect. The Orioles needed a healthy pitcher capable of providing the team a chance to win, and Povich quickly filled the role. He took his lumps, flashed potential, and appeared to adjust as the season unfolded.

Povich allowed 23 earned runs and seven homers in his first 33 innings pitched. After the All Star break, Povich limited opponents to 23 earned runs and only five homers over 46.2 innings. He issued fewer walks and saw his K/9 rate increase from 6.5 to 8.7. Over his final five starts, Povich held hitters to a 2.60 ERA and 0.868 WHIP while striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings.

Still, Suárez put together a more complete season. The Orioles could have rolled with the veteran while asking the 24-year-old to keep developing at Triple-A, but that’s not what happened. Povich became the story.

Povich posted a 3.07 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over four spring starts. He held opponents to a .167 batting average while posting a 15/4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. More importantly, he looked the part of a pitcher capable of keeping big league hitters off balance.

While Povich shined, Suárez struggled. The veteran posted a 7.89 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 21.2 innings. Suárez earned some leeway with sustained success last year, but Povich went out and took the spot. Hyde granted the final rotation spot to the youngster in the final week of camp.

Povich pitched his way into the rotation, but the story represents more than just a few impressive spring outings. Povich’s success allowed Hyde to shift Suárez back to a swingman role in the bullpen. The decision will provide the skipper another trusted option capable of delivering multiple innings early in the season.

The Orioles wouldn’t have asked Povich to pitch out of the bullpen at this point in his career. Povich and McDermott represent the top of a development class thin on starting pitching. Baltimore has notoriously avoided selecting pitchers at the top of the draft under Mike Elias, and the Birds need at least one of the two to hit for the “wait and see” strategy to pay off.

The Orioles will need more than five starting pitchers to grind through 162 games. Suárez could easily return to the rotation before Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Rodriguez, Rogers or McDermott make their way back, but Povich officially transitioned from pitching depth to pitching now.

The former top pitching prospect in Baltimore’s system has officially graduated. Povich arrived in Sarasota with a legitimate chance to break camp with a big league roster for the first time and he made the most of the opportunity. He still has plenty left to prove, but he looks ready for moment.

The Orioles are heading north with a talented 24-year-old lefty in their starting rotation. That’s the story of the spring in my book.