Not only does Orioles’ starting staff appear stronger, so does Norfolk’s

SARASOTA—The Orioles’ starting staff looks better than last season’s, and so does the Norfolk Tides’ rotation.

Brandon Young was sent to minor league camp on Saturday. For the moment, Trey Gibson, who was the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2025, is still in camp. So are Nestor German and Levi Wells, who finished last season with Norfolk.

Cade Povich, who started on Saturday for the Orioles, could wind up with the Tides if there’s not a place in Baltimore for him.

“Yes, he’s on the starter path, but everything is on the table,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “We can always pivot and see what happens in the bullpen. Right now, starting role, and see how things shake out.”

Last season, Povich was 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 22 games, 20 starts.

In two starts this spring. Povich has allowed one run on two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

“Everybody being in competition with one another only makes each other better,” Povich said after he pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing a run on one hit, walking one and striking out one on Saturday against the Twins.

“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,’” Povich said. “It helps in all aspects.”

With veterans Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin around, Povich is on solid ground.

“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,” he said.

Povich pitched in relief twice last year, and perhaps he could help in the bullpen if he doesn’t start.

“It’s all about trying to get better outing to outing, whether that’s me going three, four innings as a starter like today or coming out of the ‘pen for one or two,” he said. “I think my goal overall is to try to execute. We have smart guys behind the scenes that will put me where I’ll best help the team.”

Gibson, who’s allowed three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings in two appearances, was signed as undrafted free agent in 2023. Last season, Gibson began the season at High-A Aberdeen, moved on to Double-A Chesapeake and finished at Norfolk.

In 26 games, the 23-year-old right-hander was 5-8 with a 4.26 ERA. He struck out 166 batters in 120 1/3 innings.

Wells, a fourth-round pick in 2023, has given up four runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings in two games.

Last season, the 24-year-old Wells was 2-6 with a 3.48 ERA at Chesapeake and Norfolk.

German, who allowed a hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings, was the 11^th-round pick of the Orioles in 2023. In 2025, the 24-year-old German was 6-7 with a 3.93 ERA with the IronBirds, Baysox and Tides.

Also in camp is Cameron Weston, who threw three scoreless innings in the Orioles’ split-squad tie with Atlanta, allowing one hit. The 25-year-old Weston has pitched five shutout innings.

Luis De Léon pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his start against the Braves. The 22-year-old right-hander has hrown 2 2/3 innings without giving up a run, and he’s likely to return to Chesapeake, where he ended last season.

Another top prospect, 23-year-old Jauron Watts-Brown, who was obtained from Toronto in the trade for Seranthony Domínguez last July, isn’t even in camp. He’s also projected to start at Double-A, where he finished last season.

“It’s been awesome to see our guys,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “The organization for us on the pitching side is in a great spot as far as young starters and starters who have been here.

“It’s always good to have starting pitching depth, especially for us and the caliber of talent we have, too.”

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