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Seattle Mariners Top 10 Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Aug 18, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Seattle Mariners ball cap and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Mariners defeat the Rangers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Seattle Mariners ball cap and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Mariners defeat the Rangers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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10. Max Povse, RHP

Birthdate: 8/23/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA
Stats in 2016: 158 IP, 3.36 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 4.48 BB%, 21.48 K%

Originally drafted by the Braves out of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in the third round of the 2014 draft, Povse’s Twitter handle labels him a “tall wall”. While tall, a “wall” may be pushing it.

Povse is known for his long limbs and lean 6’8 frame. Like many guys who have such long levers, he’s struggled with maintaining his mechanics. However, unlike those same guys, he does not miss the zone when he gets off, he hits it more, just with less “stuff”.

Povse tends to pull his arm through his delivery when he gets off and “aim” his pitches into the zone, which really removes any movement from them, so he doesn’t end up walking more when he gets off, he gets drilled much easier by what appear as straight fastballs and change ups.

Povse is known for his long limbs and lean 6’8 frame

Povse works with a fastball that can touch 96-97 but sits more in the 91-94 range, featuring excellent downhill plane when he is on his game, and the velocity plays up even further due to the long stride toward home that Povse takes, allowing him to release the ball nearly a foot closer to the plate than the average pitcher.

He mixes in a solid curve and a change with excellent sink to it as well, but his control is by far his best attribute. He’s the perfect example of the difference between control and command.

When he is off, Povse still has control, but he does lose his command within the zone, getting the ball into the strike zone, but frequently missing his spots.

The Mariners may very well push Povse up to AAA in 2017 to see if he can continue the progress in holding his delivery he had in 2016, which was the longest he’d ever been able to be consistent in the delivery before this year. He does have a high floor fall back as an excellent relief option, though, if starting does not work.

Next: #9

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