Lively aims to show off stamina this season

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- With the momentum of a career year last season, right-hander Ben Lively was dialed in making his Spring Training debut.

Sunday in Goodyear, Lively threw 23 of his 33 pitches for strikes over two innings. He mixed in his sinker, changeup and four-seam fastball, and allowed one run while fanning one and walking one as the Guardians were all over the Angels, 14-2.

“All good, just trying to locate everything, not letting it rip all the way,” he said. “Felt good to be out there.”

He also gave a playful wink to being left off the Guardians’ ALDS roster last fall. Word then was as his innings piled up (a career-high 151 in 2024), he struggled, although he was added to the ALCS roster, appearing once in relief.

“I just got to, I guess, throw it harder so there’s no excuses from anyone this year,” Lively said with a good-natured smile. “I don’t want to look tired out there.”

Now that camp is off to a strong start for Lively, who will turn 33 during Spring Training, he hopes camp ends better in 2025. A year ago he spent time on the injured list due to a viral infection he picked up late in Arizona and lost 20 pounds in three days.

“We don’t want any more of that,” he recalled. “I just got crushed and had to work back from that. That was a crazy buildup.”

Lively posted career bests in 2024 in wins (13), ERA (3.81), strikeouts (118) and WHIP (1.25) over 29 starts. He finished second in innings to Tanner Bibee.

“What he really brings to the table, he brings us stability but he’s also such a tenacious competitor,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “Ben brings a ton to our team in the clubhouse and on the field.”

Handling pitchers can vary during Spring Training, says Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges.

“There’s basically two options: Is the guy making the team; is the guy trying to make the team? And you’ve got to call the game differently for them,” Hedges said. “If the guy is making the team, we might try to work on things that we might need later in the year. If the guy is trying to make the team, we’ve just got to get outs.”

Kwan starts off hot

Leadoff man Steven Kwan made his spring debut Sunday and wasted no time getting on base.

Last season the 27-year-old left fielder was an All-Star for the first time and picked up his third straight Gold Glove to become only the fifth player in MLB history to win the award in each of his first three seasons. He also batted .352 in the season’s first half.

On Sunday, Kwan singled and scored in the first then belted a solo homer to right-center in the third.

Right field intrigue

With spots around the diamond still up for competition for Cleveland, right field got a little more solid on Sunday. Will Brennan put together a sweet 9-5 double play from right to close the top of the second inning.

It’s likely the left-handed Brennan and right-handed Jhonkensy Noel will split duties there, but Johnathan Rodríguez is another to watch. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut and got 13 games under his belt in 2024 before ending the year in Triple-A Columbus.

Rodríguez has almost 600 games and close to 2,500 plate appearances in his Minor League career to this point. Most impressive are his .295 average and 40 home runs in 165 Triple-A games.

“What he’s done at Triple-A the last couple of years, we’re excited about the future for J-Rod,” Vogt said. “He’s definitely in the mix for an outfield spot.”

Baseball America’s scouting report says, “His arm strength is a double-plus weapon and the best outfield throwing arm in Cleveland's system.”

Rodríguez says he’s comfortable in right field for one simple reason: “My arm.”

All he wants is a chance long term.

“I want to go to the Major Leagues and stay there [all] year,” he added.

Up next

The Guards will travel across the Valley of the Sun on Monday to meet the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale. Lefty Joey Cantillo will start, with former D-back Slade Cecconi and Andrew Walters also scheduled to throw.