Phillies to call up pitching prospect Ben Lively
It's a temporary promotion for Lively, who was named the organization's pitcher of the year in 2016.
NEW YORK — Ben Lively, a 25-year-old pitching prospect, joined the Phillies on Wednesday
The promotion is temporary. Righthanded reliever Pat Neshek went on paternity leave, the Phillies said, and Lively will help fill a stretched bullpen.
Lively was scheduled to start Thursday's game for triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is on the 40-man roster, so his addition was the least disruptive.
The former fourth-round pick has a 4.09 ERA in two starts at triple A. He was named the organization's pitcher of the year in 2016, when he won 18 games with a 2.69 ERA and struck out 7.3 batters per nine innings.
Lively has started 94 games in five minor-league seasons. He owns a career 3.08 ERA in the minors and has never pitched in relief. The Phillies acquired him from Cincinnati in the Marlon Byrd trade.