Lovelady has found his niche in pro ball, rising quickly in Kansas City’s system as a reliever after being the Royals’ 10th rounder in 2016 from Kennesaw State. He’s coming off an effective full season in Triple-A, pitching to a 2.47 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while holding opponents to a paltry .204 average-against. Lovelady’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and touches 96 mph, coming in from a deceptive low three-quarters slot that’s especially tough for lefties to pick up. A mid-80s slider plays well off the heater from the same release point, breaking late with long lateral slant. Lovelady is knocking on the door to the big leagues and could see Kansas City at some point next season. He projects as a solid lefty setup option, one who will be especially tough for same-side hitters.
