Photo by: Gabe Rodriguez/LOD
In 2013, the Cincinnati Reds selected right-handed pitcher Ben Lively from the University of Central Florida in the fourth round of the MLB June amateur draft.
The 6’4″ Florida native played two seasons with the organization, with his best year in 2014 where started a combined 26 games and finished 13-7, with a 3.04 ERA, and 171 strikeouts, between Class A Advanced and Double A.
In the winter of 2014, after being named the Reds minor league player of the year, Cincinnati traded Lively to the Philadelphia Phillies for veteran Marlon Byrd.
In 2015, Lively started with the Phillies Double-A squad, the Reading Fightin Phils, and in 25 starts he was 8-7, with a 4.13 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 143.2 innings.
So far this season the Phillies #14 prospect, is 5-0, with a 1.80 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 40 innings.
In his eight starts, he hasn’t allowed more than three runs a game and struck out a season high nine batters on April 13th. Lively has a 0.96 WHIP and opposing batters are hitting just .185 against the hard throwing righty.
Over the last week, dating from May 9-May 15, Lively had two starts where he threw 13 shutout innings, allowing eight hits, three walks, and 14 strikeouts.
On Sunday, he threw one of his best starts of the season, lasting seven shutout innings, giving up four hits, four walks, while striking out a career high 12 batters.
The once highly touted Reds prospect has found his groove with the Phillies, and with a farm system ranked #10 by MLB.com, the organization is priding themselves with having Lively in the mix.
A jump to Triple-A may be in the cards for Lively as he continues his climb to where he belongs, in the majors.
The post Double-A Pitcher Of The Week: Phillies Prospect Ben Lively appeared first on Legends On Deck.