Max Povse

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #6 prospect in 2018
  Acquired in the November 2016 trade that sent 2014 first-round pick Alex Jackson to the Braves, Povse made his major league debut with the Mariners in 2017 on June 22. He got into three big league games and split the rest of the year between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma. Povse started strong in Arkansas' rotation before a hamstring injury put him out for a month. He struggled regaining his consistency after the injury while also taking on a new role as a long reliever. He got stronger and more coordinated in his 6-foot-8 frame in 2017, allowing him to better repeat his delivery. The velocity on his fastball increased from the low 90s to sitting 93-95 mph and touching 97. He also shows more downhill angle than pure life. He gets swings and misses from his high-70s downer curveball but needs to land it more to be effective against big league hitters. An firm upper-80s changeup with armside fade is his third pitch. He throws all his pitches for strikes, and his long levers provide deception in his delivery. Povse's role for 2018 is still to be determined. He can win a rotation spot with a strong spring training or settle in as a long reliever.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #8 prospect in 2017
  Like many tall pitchers, the 6-foot-8 Povse struggled with his mechanics when he was younger and slumped to a 5.38 career ERA in college. Undeterred, the Braves saw promise and drafted Povse 102nd overall in 2014, signing him for $425,000. The Mariners acquired Povse and fellow righthander Rob Whalen from Atlanta after the 2016 season when they parted ways with struggling 2014 first-rounder Alex Jackson. Povse has grown into his long limbs and earned midseason promotions in each of his first two full seasons. He has learned to repeat his delivery and uses his height to generate a good downhill plane on his pitches, which leads to an above-average ground ball rate. His fastball sits 89-92 mph and can get up to 94, while his big overhand curveball and changeup with improving depth both project to average or slightly above. He throws all of his pitches for strikes and uses his long limbs to hide the ball well, helping his stuff play up and limiting hard contact. Povse evokes comparisons with Doug Fister as a 6-foot-8, strike-throwing groundball aficionado. He will begin 2017 at Double-A Arkansas with a chance to rise quickly.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #21 prospect in 2015
  Povse spent three seasons at UNC Greensboro. He added nearly 40 pounds to his frame in college and saw his fastball velocity increase from 86-89 mph to 90-93. He had a durable but inconsistent career, posting a 5.38 ERA during an era of declining offense, but was a third-round pick in 2014 who signed for $425,000 nonetheless. Povse has good athleticism and repeats his delivery well. His fastball has plus sinking action and touches 95 mph. His low- to mid-80s slider has the potential to be a solid-average offering and he does a good job of generating groundballs with the pitch. Povse's fringy changeup needs added depth in order to prevent him from being vulnerable against lefthanders. After a solid pro debut at Rookie-level Danville in 2014, Povse should move up to low Class A Rome in 2015.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #142 prospect in 2014 draft
  Povse was the first player ever drafted out of six-year-old Green Hope High in Cary, N.C., in 2011, but the Dodgers' 42nd-round pick decided to head to college. He has the size and velocity to go in the first five rounds of the draft in spite of inconsistent performance in three seasons in UNC Greensboro's rotation (career 5.38 ERA). Povse has matured into his 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame, holding up under a heavy workload and improving his strikeout and walk rates the last two seasons. He pitches off an above-average sinking fastball, sitting 90-93 mph and touching 95. His fringe-average slider is more of a groundball pitch, often lacking the tilt to be a swing-and-miss pitch, and he doesn't always throw it with conviction. That and his fringy change leave him vulnerable against opposite-side hitters. He's athletic and repeats his delivery, so Povse has a chance to start as a pro.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #17 prospect in 2016
  A healthy shoulder made all the difference for Povse, who was 1-3, 9.33 while pitching hurt in 18 innings with Carolina in 2015. He averaged more than a strikeout an inning with the Mudcats this year before pitching more economically after a promotion to Double-A Mississippi. His fastball velocity varies, at times sitting in the upper 80s but getting up to 94 mph on occasion. When he's at his best, Povse leverages his size and his ball gets on top of hitters with extension out front in his deliver, making for an uncomfortable at-bat. "He went to Double-A after he was a little up-and-down here, and he really pitched well," Wheeler said. "He throws 92-94 mph and he mixes in his changeup and curveball well."

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Acquired in the November 2016 trade that sent 2014 first-round pick Alex Jackson to the Braves, Povse made his major league debut with the Mariners in 2017 on June 22. He got into three big league games and split the rest of the year between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma. Scouting Report: Povse started strong in Arkansas' rotation before a hamstring injury put him out for a month. He struggled regaining his consistency after the injury while also taking on a new role as a reliever. He got stronger and more coordinated in his 6-foot-8 frame in 2017, allowing him to better repeat his delivery. The velocity on his fastball increased from the low 90s to sitting 93-95 mph and touching 97. He also shows more downhill angle than pure life. He gets swings and misses from his high-70s downer curveball but needs to land it more to be effective against big league hitters. A firm upper-80s changeup with armside fade is his third pitch. He throws all his pitches for strikes, and his long levers provide deception in his delivery. The Future: Povse in 2018 could win a rotation spot with a strong spring or settle in as a long reliever.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Like many tall pitchers, the 6-foot-8 Povse struggled with his mechanics when he was younger and slumped to a 5.38 career ERA in college. Undeterred, the Braves saw promise and drafted Povse 102nd overall in 2014, signing him for $425,000. The Mariners acquired Povse and fellow righthander Rob Whalen from Atlanta after the 2016 season when they parted ways with struggling 2014 first-rounder Alex Jackson. Scouting Report: Povse has grown into his long limbs and earned midseason promotions in each of his first two full seasons. A strained shoulder ended his 2015 campaign early, but he bounced back to average more than a strikeout per inning at high Class A Carolina in 2016 and earn a promotion to Double-A Mississippi. Povse has learned to repeat his delivery and uses his height to generate a good downhill plane on his pitches, which leads to a lot of groundouts. His fastball sits 89-92 mph and can get up to 94, while his big overhand curveball and changeup with improving depth both project to average or slightly above. He throws all of his pitches for strikes and uses his long limbs to hide the ball well, helping his stuff play up and limiting hard contact. The result was an above-average groundball rate and just nine home runs allowed in 158 innings. The Future: Povse evokes comparisons with Doug Fister as a 6-foot-8, strike-throwing groundball aficionado. He will begin 2017 at Double-A Arkansas with a chance to rise quickly.