MiLB Players of the Week Spotlight: Orioles' Mayo, Povich

The Orioles' loaded system is already beginning to sprout at the top, and there is more blooming talent on the vine.

Third baseman Coby Mayo and lefty Cade Povich were named Minor League Players of the Week in the Eastern League after each put up career numbers for Double-A Bowie. Mayo, the eighth-ranked Orioles prospect, posted a .417/.517/.958 slash line while hitting safely in all seven games, going 10-for-24 with a homer in three straight games, eight RBIs and five runs scored. In his lone start of the week, Povich took a perfect game into the seventh inning before yielding the lone hit of his outing. The 11th-ranked Orioles prospect finished with a career-high 13 punchouts and did not issue a walk over those seven frames of one-hit ball.

"I think a lot of the success has come from just being more patient at the plate and attacking the pitches that are right over the plate," Mayo told MLB Tonight's Tom Verducci. "I’m drawing more walks and that’s helping me stay more patient in the box. Keep my on-base percentage up, which is always good. And then when I’m getting the pitches in the zone, hitting them and trying to be a complete hitter, not just a power guy. I’m trying to put other numbers up than just home runs."

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In addition to his taters in three straight games last week, Mayo also recorded a triple, two doubles and notched three multihit games while drawing four walks. The 21-year-old shared with Verducci who he tries to model his game after.

"Austin Riley has been a great guy to watch, you know, at the hot corner as well," said the third baseman who also sees time at first. "So, not trying to make [my swing] too big, just trying to go up there and hit some pitches. I know I have the power to get it over the fence so just trying not to do too much."

The 2020 fourth-round Draft selection of the Orioles out of Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., has been a catalyst for the Baysox near the top of the lineup all season long. Over 60 games with Bowie, Mayo sports a .295/.417/.562 slash line with 11 dingers, a pair of triples, 21 doubles, 38 walks, 34 RBIs and 35 runs scored. Over 49 games at the hot corner, Mayo has a .906 fielding percentage.

Povich was acquired from the Twins at last year's Trade Deadline in the deal that sent right-hander Jorge López to Minnesota. After finishing last season with six appearances for the Baysox to mixed results, the 23-year-old appears to have found his footing with his new organization this year. Over 12 starts with Bowie this season, Povich posted six outings in which he yielded two runs or fewer -- including four scoreless appearances.

"Just filling up the zone," Povich told Verducci. "We talk a lot about just attacking early and staying on the attack when we’re ahead on the count. So being ahead early definitely makes it a lot easier, and I just tried finishing at-bats when I got ahead."

The Nebraska product has shown a knack for missing bats since turning pro. In his first full season last year, Povich racked up 148 strikeouts in 114 innings with a 4.50 ERA across two levels of the Minors. The southpaw mostly works in the low 90s but can flash 96 mph with the fastball, sitting more in the 92-93 range consistently. He can throw strikes with his entire five-pitch arsenal, which also features a changeup with depth off his fastball, a big sweeping slider, a slower curveball and a distinct cutter.

"I was maybe lucky to hit 80 mph [out of high school], but I went to a junior college and the guy who recruited me is actually at the College World Series right now -- Jimmy Turk with Oral Roberts," Povich said. "So, just followed the plan there and going to Nebraska and then developing with the Twins, and now since I’ve been traded with the Orioles' system."