In 2024, Cleveland Guardians starter Ben Lively saw his Cactus League workload cut short by a viral illness.
He pitched only 4.1 innings and opened the regular season on the injured list.
Despite not being ready for a normal workload, Lively enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career with a 3.81 ERA in 151.0 innings.
This year, he has been able to enjoy a healthy spring, starting on time and working without restrictions.
“Last year was a blast-off right when the season started for me,” Lively told MLB.com. “The beginning of the year, I felt like I wasn’t even ready for three innings. It was like, ‘[Darn], here you go. You’re starting.’ And it was like, ‘OK, here we go.’
“Getting actual work in [this spring], I feel like you get a little bit more dialed in. You execute a little bit better, not just throwing your best stuff up there, but playing the game plan.”
However, Lively isn’t a lock to get a rotation spot.
He had a golden chance to secure his place in the rotation but allowed four runs in 3.2 innings in his most recent outing.
It wasn’t a disastrous start, but it left the competition wide open.
But there is no doubt he looks ready for the 2025 campaign to start.
He is in a good state of form, both physically and mentally.
He is mixing his pitches and attacking hitters with confidence.
His Cactus League ERA is 3.55, which tells you how well he was pitching before the recent setback.
