Mitch Lively Wins Venezuelan Winter League Pitcher of the Year

February 20, 2013; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Mitch Lively (77) poses for a picture during photo day at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco Giants Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies pitcher, Mitch Lively was recently voted Pitcher of the Year in the Venezuela Winter League. He was voted in unanimously

"Lively, 28, went 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA (11 ER/58.1 IP) and 41 strikeouts over 10 starts for Navegantes del Magallanes. He led the VWL in ERA, WHIP (1.25) and tied for first in wins.Lively was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 16th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Sacramento State and signed with the Giants as a minor-league free agent in 2008. Over the last two seasons, Lively has combined to go 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA (91 er/202.1 IP) over 77 appearances (20 starts) with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies."

Lively struggled a bit more last season in Fresno, going 7-5, with a 4.72 ERA, compared to his 2012 season where he went 8-4 with a 2.99 ERA. However, with his success in the Winter League, it looks like he’s back on track to having a great year ahead of him in Fresno.

In 2013 Spring Training, Lively pitched 8 innings in 7 games for the Giants. He had a 3.38 ERA, giving up 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 home run, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts.