Another Phillies prospect has joined the big league club. This time is right-handed starter Ben Lively. The Phillies announced that right-handed reliever Pat Neshek has taken a paternity leave and that Lively will fill that spot on the Phillies roster. The promotion is Lively's first to the big leagues.
Lively tweeted about the promotion, including a picture from his childhood:
This picture has been stuck in my head my whole baseball career, and has kept me pushing myself. But today that wish becomes true!@Phillies pic.twitter.com/Blv1fUjHrp
— Ben Lively (@BenLively19) April 19, 2017
Lively's stay is likely temporary.
A member of the 40-man roster, the Phillies can bring Lively up and quickly option him back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Lively may not even be used, but he fills the roster spot and provides extra protection. The Phillies already had an extra pitcher when Mark Leiter, Jr. joined the Phillies to fill the roster spot of the injured Howie Kendrick.
Lively is 1-1 with a 4.09 earned run average for the IronPigs. Lively would have started on Thursday had he not left the club.
