Norfolk Tides outfielder Colton Cowser (17) celebrates with teammate Joey Ortiz (3) after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Rochester Red Wings at Harbor Park on April 18 in ...

NORFOLK — Officially, it was 93 degrees and sunny when rehabbing major leaguer Cade Povich delivered the Norfolk Tides’ first pitch against Gwinnett on Thursday at 12:05 p.m.

Norfolk, on the heels of last season’s triumphant run, entered Wednesday fourth in the IL with a .273 team batting average. The Tides were near the bottom of the league with a 6.02 ERA.

Last year, the Norfolk Tides were the buzz of minor league baseball for the first two weeks. Led by a Murderer’s Row of talented youngsters that included Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad, Coby ...

Hours later, Henderson, who had last played for Norfolk in 2022, received the loudest ovation as the Tides were introduced. Corner infield prospect Coby Mayo was a close second.

The Tides are also pitching well; they have the best earned-run average in Triple-A, 3.57. Norfolk’s starting rotation this season has consisted of four pitchers with Major League experience.

He rejoins a Tides team that has the best overall record in baseball. Norfolk, 28-10, won another series, this time in Florida, taking four of six games against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

The Norfolk Tides and the City of Norfolk are working to finalize a long-term lease to keep the club at Harbor Park as the stadium undergoes an offseason makeover to replace more than 11,000 seats.