College teammates Spencer Schwellenbach, Cade Povich face off in Major Leagues

nn”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Neither Povich nor Schwellenbach had the most orthodox path to the Majors.nnPovich was undersized for much of his early baseball career, including as a 5-foot-6 junior at Bellevue (Neb.) West High School who couldn’t throw hard. He later went to South Mountain Community College in Phoenix and remained on the radar of Bolt, who was an assistant coach at Texas A&M University at that time in 2019.nnWhen Bolt became the head coach at Nebraska prior to the 2020 season, he brought in Povich, a hometown kid who now stands 6-foot-3.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2024-06-06T20:28:37.286Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2024/2024-06/06/de0e668d-7a6efe03-55c57a35-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Cade Povich discusses his MLB debut against the Blue Jays, getting called up to the big leagues, feeling fully prepared and more”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:01:01″,”slug”:”cade-povich-discusses-his-mlb-debut”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-110″,”title”:”Baltimore Orioles”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:110″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-700249″,”title”:”Cade Povich”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:700249″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”interview”,”title”:”interview”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”tune-in-daily”,”title”:”TuneIn daily”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/dyehtyn51kuippchfpjn”},”title”:”Cade Povich discusses his MLB debut”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/cade-povich-discusses-his-mlb-debut”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Meanwhile, Schwellenbach went straight from Heritage High School in Saginaw, Mich., to the Cornhuskers. But he started his career as a shortstop, not throwing a pitch off the mound until he was a lights-out closer as a junior in 2021, which was Povich’s second season on Nebraska’s staff.nn“It kind of looked like it was trending that way, that he was going to be a pitcher,” Bolt said of Schwellenbach. “And there were some \[MLB\] clubs that liked him as both, honestly. But his upside on the mound … it was pretty impressive what he could do.””,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2021-05-15T08:01:00Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-04/20/03ae2e0b-ee5aafcb-75c09462-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Spencer Schwellenbach showcases a two-way mix of a three-plus pitch offering on the mound and a hard-hitting infielder in batter’s box”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:58″,”slug”:”2021-draft-schwellenbach-rhp-ss”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-draft”,”title”:”MLB Draft”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/rvl7bm1uerstiyyjzo2n”},”title”:”2021 Draft: Schwellenbach, RHP/SS”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/2021-draft-schwellenbach-rhp-ss”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Schwellenbach and Povich were taken early in the 2021 MLB Draft — the former by Atlanta with the No. 59 pick in the second round, and the latter by Minnesota at No. 98 in the third. Povich was later traded from the Twins to the O’s in August 2022.nnNow, both are in the big leagues, with their paths crossing again earlier than most could have anticipated.nn“Big day for Lincoln, Nebraska,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said.nnSchwellenbach underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted — which the Braves knew would be the case — and then threw only 110 innings over 24 Minor League starts (including none above Double-A Mississippi) before being called up to the big leagues in late May. The 24-year-old right-hander recorded an 8.38 ERA over his first two starts.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2024-06-05T19:00:53.644Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2024/2024-06/05/765448a8-f767e95c-20307662-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Spencer Schwellenbach makes the nifty defensive play to spoil Reese McGuire’s bunt attempt”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:20″,”slug”:”reese-mcguire-bunt-grounds-out-softly-pitcher-spencer-schwellenbach-to-fi”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2024″,”title”:”Season 2024″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-680885″,”title”:”Spencer Schwellenbach”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:680885″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”defense”,”title”:”defense”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-144″,”title”:”Atlanta Braves”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:144″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”high-speed-play”,”title”:”High Speed Play”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/mfzj3qxbyal33kmvnjoi”},”title”:”Spencer Schwellenbach’s nifty defensive play”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/reese-mcguire-bunt-grounds-out-softly-pitcher-spencer-schwellenbach-to-fi”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Povich, also 24, logged 307 1/3 innings in the Minors, with 102 of those coming for Triple-A Norfolk over the past two seasons. The left-hander was called up by the Orioles last week in Toronto, where he allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in his debut vs. the Blue Jays.nnIt may not be long, though, before both former Cornhuskers are putting up better numbers.nn“Incredibly proud, and not surprised. I think they’ve both got what it takes to stick at this level,” Bolt said. “Both those guys have immense talent, but they have got the right mentality and the right work habits that they work like pros.”nnHow did Bolt plan to cheer during Wednesday’s Braves-Orioles matchup with a Nebraska pitcher on each side?nn“I just want to see those guys do well,” Bolt said. “And, obviously, quick innings on the mound means those guys are putting up zeros.””,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/college-teammates-spencer-schwellenbach-cade-povich-face-off-in-major-leagues”,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:”First time in school history two Nebraska alumni start against each other in the Majors”,”summary”:”BALTIMORE — Spencer Schwellenbach recently learned he’d be making his third big league start when the Braves traveled to Camden Yards this week. Around the same time, Cade Povich was informed by the Orioles that his second big league start would come during the three-game series vs. Atlanta.nWhat were”,”tagline({“formatString”:”none”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-680885″,”title”:”Spencer Schwellenbach”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:680885″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-700249″,”title”:”Cade Povich”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:700249″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-top-prospects”,”title”:”MLB Top Prospects”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”,”gamePk”:747028,”slug”:”gamepk-747028″,”title”:”2024/06/12 atl@bal”,”type”:”game”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-110″,”title”:”Baltimore Orioles”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:110″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-144″,”title”:”Atlanta 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First time in school history two Nebraska alumni start against each other in the Majors

23 minutes ago

BALTIMORE — Spencer Schwellenbach recently learned he’d be making his third big league start when the Braves traveled to Camden Yards this week. Around the same time, Cade Povich was informed by the Orioles that his second big league start would come during the three-game series vs. Atlanta.

What were the chances the former University of Nebraska teammates would face off as opposing starting pitchers on the same night?

“Last week, when I was told I was pitching, and then about roughly when he was told he was going to pitch next, it seemed like it was a possibility that it might line up. And it has,” Povich said. “We’ve been talking about it. I’m super excited.”

On Wednesday night, two former Cornhuskers took the mound, with Povich (the O’s No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline) making his home debut and Schwellenbach (Braves’ No. 3 prospect) starting for the opponents. Many Nebraska fans across the nation — especially those in Lincoln, where the campus is located — were surely tuned in from afar.

But Cornhuskers head coach Will Bolt wouldn’t be satisfied with watching on TV. He already planned to travel to see both Povich and Schwellenbach — two of his former hurlers — pitch at some point this summer. It made the most sense to cross them off his to-do list at once.

“To be able to come to one spot and see them both — and [for the] first time in school history for that to happen — pretty special and what a cool thing,” Bolt said. “They were playing for us three years ago, and now, they’re in the big leagues.”

Neither Povich nor Schwellenbach had the most orthodox path to the Majors.

Povich was undersized for much of his early baseball career, including as a 5-foot-6 junior at Bellevue (Neb.) West High School who couldn’t throw hard. He later went to South Mountain Community College in Phoenix and remained on the radar of Bolt, who was an assistant coach at Texas A&M University at that time in 2019.

When Bolt became the head coach at Nebraska prior to the 2020 season, he brought in Povich, a hometown kid who now stands 6-foot-3.

Meanwhile, Schwellenbach went straight from Heritage High School in Saginaw, Mich., to the Cornhuskers. But he started his career as a shortstop, not throwing a pitch off the mound until he was a lights-out closer as a junior in 2021, which was Povich’s second season on Nebraska’s staff.

“It kind of looked like it was trending that way, that he was going to be a pitcher,” Bolt said of Schwellenbach. “And there were some [MLB] clubs that liked him as both, honestly. But his upside on the mound … it was pretty impressive what he could do.”

Schwellenbach and Povich were taken early in the 2021 MLB Draft — the former by Atlanta with the No. 59 pick in the second round, and the latter by Minnesota at No. 98 in the third. Povich was later traded from the Twins to the O’s in August 2022.

Now, both are in the big leagues, with their paths crossing again earlier than most could have anticipated.

“Big day for Lincoln, Nebraska,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said.

Schwellenbach underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted — which the Braves knew would be the case — and then threw only 110 innings over 24 Minor League starts (including none above Double-A Mississippi) before being called up to the big leagues in late May. The 24-year-old right-hander recorded an 8.38 ERA over his first two starts.

Povich, also 24, logged 307 1/3 innings in the Minors, with 102 of those coming for Triple-A Norfolk over the past two seasons. The left-hander was called up by the Orioles last week in Toronto, where he allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in his debut vs. the Blue Jays.

It may not be long, though, before both former Cornhuskers are putting up better numbers.

“Incredibly proud, and not surprised. I think they’ve both got what it takes to stick at this level,” Bolt said. “Both those guys have immense talent, but they have got the right mentality and the right work habits that they work like pros.”

How did Bolt plan to cheer during Wednesday’s Braves-Orioles matchup with a Nebraska pitcher on each side?

“I just want to see those guys do well,” Bolt said. “And, obviously, quick innings on the mound means those guys are putting up zeros.”

College teammates Spencer Schwellenbach, Cade Povich face off in Major Leagues