Ben Lively

Position: RHSP
Level: Double-A
Affiliate: Reading Fightin Phils
League:
Age: 24
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 190
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 4th Rd., 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (CIN); Acquired in trade for M. Byrd 12/31/14 (PHI).

Prospect Spotlight

Lively put up video game like numbers at the High A level of the Reds’ system, and under their instruction in 2014. Acquired in the trade sending Marlon Byrd the the Reds on 12/31/14, Lively has had continued success in the Phillies’ farm system over the past two seasons. Lively brings a strong frame, build, and athleticism that give him the durability to repeat his easy, fluent mechanics. Lively doesn’t overpower hitters by any means, but a deceptive arm action and the extension he gets towards home allow his 88-92 mph (T93)  fastball to play up, and hitters have a hard time timing it. Along with deception, Lively has plus fastball command which sets up his secondary offerings nicely.

Lively doesn’t feature a true-weapon secondary pitch but coming out of the same arm slot, having plus fastball command and the ability to sequence hitters intelligently all make his secondaries effective offerings. He features a changeup, curveball and slider that all play in the fringe-average to average range. Lively’s changeup is his best secondary pitch (average) and the 8-to-10 mph velo separation with arm side fade will make it effective to both RHH and LHH. His ability to throw his fringe-average curveball for strikes in any count and as a chase pitch kept Double-A hitters off balance and expanding the strike zone often. Lively’s slider has some bite and depth in the 83-to-84 mph range. Overall, Lively features a four-pitch mix, all in the 45-to-50 grading range, and with plus command, a sturdy build, and a deceptive delivery, it all adds up to a ceiling of a back end of the rotation starter. – C.J. Wittmann