Mitch Lively

Mitchell David Lively

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight: 250 lb.
• School Sacramento State University
• High School Lassen High School
• Born September 7, 1985 in Susanville, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Mitch Lively began his professional career in 2007.

Lively had a 4.95 ERA in 14 games in college in 2004 and was 0-6 with a 7.42 ERA in 2006. He tied for 4th in the Western Athletic Conference in losses and led with 18 wild pitches. As a senior, he continued to fare poorly (1-3, 8 Sv, 8.07). He managed to lead the WAC in saves. He also was a punter at Sacramento State.

He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 16th round of the 2007 amateur draft (the scout was Gary Wilson), a couple slots ahead of Steve Edlefsen, and spent one year in their system. He was 1-0 with two runs (one earned) in 6 2/3 IP for the Casper Rockies that year. He was released by Colorado following the 2007 campaign and signed with the independent San Angelo Colts of the United Baseball League for 2008. He pitched 11 games with San Angelo (4 Sv, 2.13 ERA, 18 K in 12 2/3 IP) before inking a contract with the San Francisco Giants partway through the year.

He began his career as a relief pitcher and had some success in that role - in 2008, he had a 1.61 ERA with four saves and 40 strikeouts in 28 innings split between San Angelo, the AZL Giants (0 R in 2 2/3 IP) and Augusta Greenjackets (1-0, 1.42 in 10 G). 2009 was split between Augusta (9 R in 17 2/3 IP), the San Jose Giants (5.23 ERA in 16 G) and the Connecticut Defenders (3-0, Sv, 0.70 in 14 G), walking 30 in 64 IP. He spent 2010 with Augusta (4-2, Sv, 4.89 in 24 G) and the Richmond Flying Squirrels (2-4, 3 Sv, 3.90 in 23 G).

In 2011, he had a 2.14 ERA with nine saves in 56 appearances for San Jose (3-3, 8 Sv, 1.46 in 38 G, 52 K in 49 1/3 IP) and Richmond (0-4, Sv, 3.68 in 18 G). He tied Dan Otero for second in the Giants chain in games pitched, one behind Stephen Harrold. In 2012, his first year at Triple-A Fresno, he was 8-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 47 relief appearances. He tied Harrold for 6th in the Giants chain in pitching appearances. His .220 opponent batting average was 4th best among 2012 PCL relief pitchers. He tied the Grizzlies record for wins by a reliever, tying Dusty Bergman, Robbie Crabtree and Steve Connelly.

He converted to starting pitching for 2013, going 7-5 with a 4.72 ERA in 30 games (20 starts) for Fresno. He had a superb winter with the Navegantes del Magallanes at 6-1, 1.46. He led the Venezuelan League in ERA by 1.34 over Eric Berger, tied Yeiper Castillo and Jesús Delgado for the win lead and tied Raul Rivero for 7th in strikeouts (41). One drawback was his 29 walks, one shy of leader Renyel Pinto. He won Pitcher of the Year and a Gold Glove for his fine season. He fell to 1-1, 6.89 in the postseason, though.

Lively pitched in the Giants and Washington Nationals systems (joining Washington after being released by the Giants) in 2014, spending the whole year at Triple-A. Between the Grizzlies (6-4, 5.10) and Syracuse Chiefs (5-2, 3.86), he was 11-6 with a 4.74 ERA in 31 games (22 starts). He joined Magallanes for the winter, going 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. After beginning 2015 with the Chiefs (0-2, 2.31 ERA in 35 IP), he was signed by the Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He went without a decision while posting a 5.30 ERA in 16 appearances for them, striking out 22 but walking 15 in 18 2/3 IP. After pitching for Magallanes in the winter (1-3, 6.14), he joined the Mexican League for 2016. He played for the Vaqueros Laguna, Broncos de Reynosa as well as the Harrisburg Senators in the Nationals chain. Between the three clubs, he had a 3-2 record and a 2.37 ERA in 50 games. With the Bravos de Leon in 2017, he was 7-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 21 games (12 starts).

Sources

• 2014 Giants Media Guide
• The Baseball Cube
• Purapelota