There is more blossoming talent on the vine, and the Orioles stacked system is already starting to emerge at the top.
After putting up impressive career numbers for Double-A Bowie, southpaw Cade Povich and third baseman Coby Mayo were awarded Minor League Players of the Week in the Eastern League. The eighth-ranked Mayo prospect for the Orioles hit safely in all seven games, going 10-for-24 with three straight home runs, eight RBIs, and five runs scored. His slash line read.417/.517/.958. Povich, who made just one start of the week, allowed the only hit of his appearance after taking a perfect game into the seventh inning. With a career-high 13 strikeouts, the 11th-ranked Orioles prospect did not allow a walk throughout those seven inning
“I think a lot of the success has just come from attacking the pitches that are right over the plate and just being more patient at the plate,” Mayo said to Tom Verducci of MLB Tonight. “Drawing more walks is assisting me in practicing patience when working inside the box. Maintain my high on-base percentage, which is always beneficial. After that, I try to hit them and be a complete hitter rather than just a power hitter when I’m getting pitches in the zone. I’m
Last week, Mayo not only hit home runs in three straight games but also recorded a triple, two doubles, three multihit games, and four walks. The 21-year-old revealed to Verducci who his ideal gaming inspiration is.
The third baseman who sees time at first, Austin Riley, “has been a great guy to watch, you know, at the hot corner as well.” “I’m just trying to get up there and hit some pitches, not trying to make [my swing] too big.” I’m just trying not to do too much because I know I have the ability to get it over the fence.”
The Orioles’ selection of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in the 2020 fourth round of the draft has kept the Baysox near the top of the lineup the whole season. Mayo has a slash line of.295/.417/.562 through 60 games with Bowie, with 11 home runs, two triples, 21 doubles, 38 walks, 34 RBIs, and 35 runs scored. Mayo’s fielding percentage at the hot corner is.906 in 49 games.
In the trade that sent right-hander Jorge LĂłpez to Minnesota at the Trade Deadline of the previous season, Povich was acquired from the Twins. The 23-year-old seemed to have settled well with his new team this season after concluding the previous campaign with six appearances for the Baysox, albeit with varying degrees of success. This season, Povich has made 12 starts for Bowie and has six appearances in which he has allowed two runs or fewer, including four scoreless games.
“Just filling up the zone,” Povich said to Verducci. “We frequently discuss the importance of simply striking first and continuing to attack after we have the upper hand. Therefore, having an early advantage makes things much easier. I wanted to finish at-bats when I had an advantage.”
Since becoming professional, the Nebraska product has demonstrated a talent for missing bats. Povich pitched in two levels of the Minors last year, recording 148 strikeouts in 114 innings with a 4.50 ERA during his first complete season. The southpaw sits more comfortably in the 92–93 mph range but can flash as high as 96 mph with the fastball. Using all five of his pitches—a changeup with depth off his fastball, a large sweeping slider, a slower curveball, and a unique cutter—he can deliver strikes to the plate.
“Maybe I was fortunate to reach 80 mph after high school, but I attended a junior college, and the person who recruited me is currently at the College World Series.”
attempting to post stats beyond home runs.”