Orioles Pitcher Cade Povich Undergoes Left Elbow Surgery

Baltimore Orioles left-hander Cade Povich underwent surgery on Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, as reported by Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun. Povich shared a photograph from a hospital bed on his Instagram account featuring the caption “quick cleanup” and added the note “’27 here we come,” with the procedure expected to leave him ready for the upcoming spring training. The 26-year-old pitcher divided his 2026 campaign between Baltimore and Triple-A Norfolk. He went on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation on May 8 and did not return to the major league club until August 4, when he tossed six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. According to Weyrich’s reporting, Povich dealt with significant pain down the stretch of the season, which contributed to his struggles in September across both levels. Across eight major league appearances, including seven starts, Povich registered a 4.38 ERA and a 1.486 WHIP over 37 innings. He finished the year with a 5.07 ERA across 229 career major league innings since his 2024 debut. In Triple-A Norfolk, he made 13 starts this season and posted a 6.28 ERA.

Baltimore Rotation Adjustments and Offseason Needs

Povich missed potential opportunities in the Baltimore rotation during a season marked by heavy workloads from Shane Baz, who made 31 starts, Trevor Rogers with 30, Kyle Bradish with 29, and Brandon Young with 28. The Orioles are facing an unsettled pitching staff for next season, as Rogers and Chris Bassitt are eligible for free agency, and Zach Eflin is expected to enter free agency rather than have his $25 million mutual option exercised.

The organization will look for at least one starter this winter and could evaluate young left-hander Luis De León, the club’s No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. De León spent the final month of the season in the bullpen before returning to his developmental starting role. Povich will compete for a rotation spot or potentially pitch as an extra left-hander in the bullpen during spring training.

Medical Updates for Bradish and Holliday

Alongside Povich’s procedure, the Orioles managed multiple offseason surgeries for key players. Pitcher Kyle Bradish underwent core muscle repair surgery on September 29 in Philadelphia, and second baseman Jackson Holliday underwent a left wrist TFCC debridement in Los Angeles on the same day. Neither procedure is expected to impact the availability of Bradish or Holliday when spring training camps open.