Ben Lively

Ben Lively
Lively with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024
Cleveland Guardians – No. 39
Pitcher
Born: (1992-03-05) March 5, 1992 (age 32)
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: June 3, 2017, for the Philadelphia Phillies
KBO: August 13, 2019, for the Samsung Lions
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record21–27
Earned run average4.53
Strikeouts277
KBO statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record10-12
Earned run average4.14
Strikeouts191
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Edward Bennett Lively (born March 5, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, and Cincinnati Reds and in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions.

Early life and education

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Lively was born to Edward and Ginny Lively in Pensacola, Florida.[1][2] He began playing organized baseball at age 4 in the Tee-ball league; he was allowed to join a year early because of his prowess and the fact that his grandfather, Jim Lively, who coached him throughout his childhood, was the league commissioner.[2] He is a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School.[2]

The Cleveland Indians selected Lively in the 26th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school. He did not sign and instead attended the University of Central Florida (UCF).[3] In his three years pitching for the UCF Knights baseball team, he went 21–8 with a 3.06 earned run average (ERA) and 226 strikeouts over 244 innings. After his sophomore season in 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4]

Career

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Cincinnati Reds

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The Cincinnati Reds selected Lively in the fourth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.[5][6] He made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs and made one start with the Dayton Dragons.[7] Lively finished his first season, 0–4 but with a 0.88 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 41 innings. He started the 2014 season with the Bakersfield Blaze.[8] He was named as the top player in the Reds' farm system in 2014 after posting a 13–7 record and 3.04 ERA with Bakersfield and the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.[9]

Philadelphia Phillies

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On December 31, 2014, the Reds traded Lively to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Marlon Byrd.[10]

In 2015, Lively went 8–7 with a 4.13 ERA in 25 games with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. He began the 2016 season with Reading before being promoted to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He received the 2016 Paul Owens Award as best pitcher in the Phillies' farm system.[2] The Phillies added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.[11] He was assigned to Lehigh Valley to begin the 2017 season.

On June 3, 2017, Lively made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies against the San Francisco Giants. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks, earning his first major league win.[12] In his June 24 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he collected his first major league RBI with a 2-run home run, but gave up 4 earned runs and took the 9–2 loss.[13] He finished his rookie season with a 4–7 record and 4.26 ERA in 15 major league appearances. In 2018, Lively pitched in 5 games for Philadelphia, but after struggling to an 0–2 record and 6.85 ERA, he was designated for assignment on September 3, 2018.[14]

Kansas City Royals

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On September 5, 2018, Lively was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals, who then designated Eric Stout for assignment to add Lively to the 40-man roster.[15] Lively recorded a 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings of work for Kansas City in 2018. He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2019 season. Lively himself was designated for assignment on June 20, 2019, following the promotion of Humberto Arteaga. He allowed 3 runs in the only inning he pitched for Kansas City.

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On June 22, 2019, Lively was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations.[16] He was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces, where he recorded a 5.04 ERA and 2–1 record across 7 appearances.

Samsung Lions

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On August 7, 2019, Lively left the Diamondbacks organization to sign with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. Lively pitched to a 4–4 record and a 3.95 ERA in his first season with Samsung. Lively re-signed with Samsung for the 2020 season on a $700,000 contract.[17] In 2020 he pitched to a 6–7 record and 4.26 ERA in 21 appearances. Lively only made six appearances in 2021, registering a 4.05 ERA. On June 1, 2021, Lively was released after being diagnosed with a shoulder injury.[18]

Cincinnati Reds (second stint)

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On January 6, 2022, Lively signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.[19] He spent the entire year with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, making 18 starts and registering a 2–5 record and 4.09 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 77.0 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[20]

On November 19, 2022, Lively re-signed with the Reds on a new minor league contract. He was assigned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2023 season, where he posted a 4–0 record and 2.33 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 5 games (4 starts). On May 9, 2023, Lively had his contract selected to the active roster.[21] He made his first start on May 20 against the New York Yankees, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and one walk with a career-high 8 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.[22] In an August 1 start against the Chicago Cubs, Lively allowed 13 runs on 13 hits and 2 walks in 4.0 innings of work.[23] In 19 total games (12 starts) for Cincinnati, he logged a 4–7 record and 5.38 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 88+2⁄3 innings of work. Following the season on October 18, Lively was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Louisville.[24] He elected free agency on November 6.[25]

Cleveland Guardians

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On December 12, 2023, Lively signed a major league contract with the Cleveland Guardians.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Salisbury, Jim (June 3, 2017). "Ben Lively Reels in His 1st Big-League Win, a Much-Needed One for Phillies". CSNPhilly. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Vilona, Bill (April 19, 2017). "Gulf Breeze's Ben Lively called up to join the Phillies". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  3. ^ "UCF pitcher Ben Lively has grown into ace". Orlando Sentinel. April 18, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "Ben Lively". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "Sports - Pensacola News Journal - pnj.com". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "Sports - Pensacola News Journal - pnj.com". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "Lively Joins Dragons as Garrett Departs - Dayton Dragons News". Dayton Dragons. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "Cincinnati Reds' Ben Lively near perfect in California League debut - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  9. ^ Vilona, Bill (December 8, 2014). "Ben Lively named Reds top minor league player". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  10. ^ Sheldon, Mark (December 31, 2014). "Reds acquire outfielder Byrd in deal with Phils". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  11. ^ Gelb, Matt (November 19, 2016). "Phillies add 11 players in 40-man roster overhaul". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  12. ^ "Lively, Herrera lead Phillies past Giants 5-3". ESPN. Associated Press. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "Lamb, Diamondbacks rally past Phillies 9-2". ESPN. Associated Press. June 25, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  14. ^ "Phillies Activate Jerad Eickhoff, Designate Ben Lively". September 3, 2018.
  15. ^ Adams, Steve (September 5, 2018). "Royals Claim Ben Lively, Designate Eric Stout". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  16. ^ "Royals deal Ben Lively to Diamondbacks". Fox Sports Kansas City. June 22, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  17. ^ "Ex-MLB pitcher Ben Lively re-signs with KBO's Samsung Lions". Yonhap News Agency. December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  18. ^ "Mike Montgomery to Sign with KBO's Samsung Lions". June 2021.
  19. ^ "Reds Sign Ben Lively To Minors Deal". January 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. November 13, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  21. ^ "Reds' Ben Lively: Contract selected by Reds". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  22. ^ "Reds' Ben Lively: Strikes out eight in first start". cbssports.com. May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "Reds' Ben Lively: Tagged for 13 runs in blowout". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Reds' Ben Lively: Sent outright to Triple-A". cbssports.com. October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  25. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "MLB: Cleveland Guardians sign Gulf Breeze native Ben Lively to one-year contract".
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