Ben Lively #39

EDWARD BENNETT LIVELY...2010 graduated from Gulf Breeze (Fla.) HS...Attended UCF, where he pitched w/LHP Eric Skoglund (also with KC)...While at UCF, produced the 4th-best career ERA in school history (3.06)...Signed by Reds scout Greg Zunino.

2024

Became one of the most consistent pieces of the Guardians rotation in 2024, leading the club in wins (13) while finishing second on the club in IP (151.0IP) and starts (29)…Enjoyed a career year, posting career-highs in wins, innings, starts, ERA (3.81) strikeouts (118) and WHIP (1.25)…Logged nine quality starts (Second on club, owned 13 career prior)…After missing time to start of the year due to a viral illness out of ST, made his season debut on April 17 at Boston (L, 5.0IP, 2ER, 7K)…Through his first four starts with Cleveland, he posted a 2.08 ERA (5ER/21.2IP)…His 2.08 ERA was the lowest mark by a CLE starter through their first four outings with the club since Aaron Civale in 2019 (1.50ERA)…Won a '24 club-high five-consecutive starts from May 14-June 8, becoming the first CLE to achieve the feat in a single season since Mike Clevinger in 2019…Won six of his first 10 starts while posting a 2.59 ERA (16ER/55.2IP), joining Gaylord Perry (1972 - 8-2, 1.69) and Jack Kralick (1963 - 7-2, 2.04) as the only three pitchers in club history to earn 6-or-more wins and post an ERA of 2.60-or-lower in their first 10 starts with the club...Prior to 2024, Ben owned a .301 opp. avg. & a .925 opp. OPS against LHH (.228avg/.734 opponent OPS in '24)…Utilized his sinker 29.0% of the time in 2024, a career-high usage rate…Sinker owned an average pitch velocity of 90.4 mph, the sixth-lowest velo among AL SP(min. 100 pitches)...Held the opposition to a .212 batting average (24-for-113) with RISP, the 10th-best mark among AL starting pitchers (min. 25GS; 5th-lowest opponent average with RISP by a Guardians starter in the Statcast Era since 2015)...Guards went 11-3 his starts at Progressive Field…Lively’s 11 team wins at home in 2024 ranked T3rd among AL SP, trailing only TOR’s José Berríos (12) & DET’s Tarik Skubal (12)...Made his Postseason debut in ALCS Game 2 at Yankee Stadium, working 1.1-scoreless innings with one walk and two strikeouts…Was placed on the ALCS roster after RHP Alex Cobb was removed due to injury (was not on the ALDS roster)…Led the AL, ranked 4th in MLB with a 1.24 ERA (4ER/29.0IP) in the 1st inning (min. 25.0IP)…Lively’s 1.24 ERA in the first inning in 2024 was the third-best first inning ERA among Cleveland hurlers in the divisional era (since 1969), trailing only Cliff Lee in 2008 (1.16) and Bartolo Colón in 2001 (1.06).

2023

Split the 2023 season between Cincinnati and Triple-A Louisville...Began the 2023 campaign again with the Bats after NRI ST invite in AZ before his May 9 promotion to the Queen City, spending the remainder of the season in Cincinnati around three stints to the Injured List...Made his first two appearances in relief, then from May 19-Aug. 1 made 12 consecutive starts before returning to the bullpen for his last five outings...Missed 35 games during two stints on the 15-day IL with a right pectoral strain (14-G from 6/24-7/8, 21-G from 8/2-8/25)...Missed 13 games in early Sept. due to a stint on COVID IL...After his second stint on the 15-day IL, made each of his last five appearances in relief (17.2IP, 19H, 12ER)...In three of his last four apps threw at least 4.0 innings...First Reds reliever to have three outings of at least 4.0 relief IP within a season since Michael Lorenzen in 2018..Staff-high 5.2-inning outing on Aug. 26 at Arizona was the longest by a Reds pitcher out of the bullpen since David Holberg pitched 5.2 innings in relief in a 5-0 win on 9/18/14 vs StL...In his last start, a 20-9 loss on Aug. 1 at Chicago-NL, allowed 13 hits and 13 runs, both career highs in 4.0IP (career-high-tying 4HR)...Became the first Reds pitcher to allow 13 runs in a game since Charles “King” Lear allowed 13 runs in 8.0 innings on 7/24/1915 at Philadelphia...Returned to the injured list the next day...Last MLB SP to allow 13H/13R in an outing was TEX P Colby Lewis in 2014 (last CLE P was Bob Feller in 1938)...Season debut on May 11 vs. NY Mets was his first ML appearance since 4/28/19 for KC vs LAA, his only appearance of that season before heading to Korea (first win since his last appearance of the 2017 campaign)... Posted a 5.48 ERA in 12 GS (40ER/65.2IP) and a 5.09 ERA in relief (13ER/23.0IP)…Had a 1.99 ERA in five May outings (3GS, 5ER/22.2IP) and a 3.00 ERA in 4 July starts (7ER/21.0IP).

2022

Was a non-roster invitee to Major League Spring Training camp... Spent the season at Louisville and made his first professional apps in the United States since 8/2/19 for the Royals' Class AAA Reno affiliate... Tied for second on the Bats' staff with 18 starts... From 6/22-8/29 was on the 7-day injured list with a right flexor strain... Was Louisville's Opening Day starter and suffered the 3-2 loss vs St. Paul (5ip, 1h, 1er, 3bb, 4k)...became the first Bats Opening Day pitcher to throw at least 5.0 innings and allow no more than 1 earned run since Jeff Francis in 2014... Following the season became a free agent...on 11/11 was re-signed to a Minor League contract with an invitation to 2023 Major League Spring Training camp.

2019-21

During the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons pitched for the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization (36gs, 16qs, 10-12, 4.14, 1sho, 202.1ip, 172h, 65bb, 191k, 19hr).

2018

On 10-day disabled list with a lower back strain, April 27-May 8, 2018...Was claimed off waivers by the Royals, September 5, 2018.

2017

Was T-6th among all ML rookies in quality starts (10, 5th in NL) despite starting at least 5 fewer games than all ahead of him... Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA) and was shuttled between there and Philadelphia all season (4 stints with PHI)... Made his ML debut on 6/3 vs SF (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 3 BB, HB)... Was the first Phillies pitcher with at least 7.0 IP and a hit at the plate in his debut since 1972 (Dave Downs)... Tossed 7.0 innings and allowed 3 runs or fewer in each of his first 3 career starts, becoming the first Phillie to do so since 1969 (Bill Champion)... Yielded only 4 HR in his first 8 starts (48.2 IP), including a 17.1-inning homerless streak, 6/30-8/26... Hit his first career HR, 6/24 at ARI, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to homer since 5/10/15 (Chad Billingsley) and the fi rst Phillies rookie pitcher to homer since 8/23/95 (Tyler Green)... Homered again, 9/5 at NYM, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to hit 2 HR in a season since 2011 (Cliff Lee), and the first with a HR and 4 RBI in a game since 6/2/02 (Robert Person)... Was the fi rst Phillies pitcher since 1993 with 3 multi-RBI games in a season (Tommy Greene)... His 8 RBI were the most by a Phillies pitcher since 2004 (Randy Wolf, 8) and he did so in 10 fewer games... Tossed his first career CG (8.0 IP) on 9/10 at WSH, the only one by a Phillie in 2017.

2016

Received the Paul Owens Award as the best pitcher in the Phillies minor league system...Led all minor league pitchers in wins (18), was T-2nd in starts (28) and T-4th in innings (170.2)...His 18 wins were the most by any minor league pitcher since 2008 (Jhoulys Chacin, 18)...Went a combined 18-5, 2.69 ERA (51 ER, 170.2 IP), 0.94 WHIP (42 BB, 118 H) and 139 SO in 28 starts between Reading (AA) and Lehigh Valley (AAA)...Began the season with Reading...Won Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April (5 GS, 3-0, 1.55 ERA, 5 ER, 29.0 IP, 30 SO, 6 BB)...Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the week on 4 occasions: 4/18-24, 5/9-15, 6/6-12 and 8/29-9/5...Won 5 consecutive starts, 4/29-5/22, before being promoted to Lehigh Valley on 5/26...Led the International League in WHIP (0.93) & OPP AVG (.196), T-1st in wins (11) and finished 2nd in ERA (3.06)...Pitched his first professional SHO, 6/6 at Gwinnett (6.0 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 6 SO)...In 6 August starts, went 5-1, 1.93 ERA (8 ER, 37.1 IP)...Did not allow a hit or walk and had 10 SO in 6.0 innings in his final start of the regular season...Started Game 1 of the Governor's Cup semifinals, 9/7 vs SWB (2 ER, 7.2 IP)

2015

Spent the entire season with Reading... Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week and Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, 4/27-5/4... T-1st among Phillies minor leaguers in starts and T-2nd in innings... Ranked 8th in the EL in strikeouts... Was on the 7-day DL, 8/12-26 (right shoulder strain).

2014

Named CIN's Minor League Player of the Year (13-7, 3.04 ERA)... Led all CIN minor leaguers and was T-2nd in Minor League Baseball in SO (171)... Began the season with Bakersfield (A)... Was named a California League midseason All-Star... Twice named CL Pitcher of the Week: 4/15-21 and 4/22-28... Had a 30.0-inning scoreless streak, 4/6-5/2... Went 5-0, 0.31 ERA (1 ER, 29.0 IP) while posting a 40.00 SO/BB ratio (40 SO, 1 BB) over 5 starts in April... Held RHH to a .167 AVG (28-168)... Had back-to-back 10-SO games, 4/16 & 4/22... Promoted to Pensacola (AA) on 6/18 for remainder of season where he allowed 3 ER or fewer in 11 of his 13 starts... Hit his first professional HR on 8/19 at Jacksonville... Following the season, was named the 6th-best prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America.

2013

Made his pro debut with Billings (R)... Named a Pioneer League All-Star and Pitcher of the Week, 8/12-19... Transferred to Dayton (A) on 8/27 and made 1 start... Following the season, was named the 9th-best prospect in CIN's minor league system by Baseball America.