Ben Cleaver making major sophomore leap this season

Through three starts this season, it appears as if Kentucky sophomore left-handed pitcher Ben Cleaver has made one of the biggest leaps in all of College Baseball.

Cleaver has been absolutely dominant through his first three starts of the season, but even more in his last two. In his last two starts against Belmont and Hofstra (13 1/3 innings), the left-hander has faced 43 batters. Just three of those batters have reached base (two singles and a walk).

He was dinged for four hits and three runs in his season debut against Lipscomb (3 2/3 innings), which gave him a 7.36 ERA. His last two starts have dramatically lowered that however, as it now sits at 1.59, which is 18th in the SEC. Among sophomores, his ERA ranks just second in the conference behind Florida RHP Liam Peterson (1.12).

“The way he carries himself is, I mean, there are certain guys, when they stand on the mound, they look like eight feet tall and 10 feet tall. He’s one of those guys,” Kentucky Baseball head coach Nick Mingione said. “He carries himself in a great way and brings great positive energy even when he’s not pitching, what an unbelievable teammate.” 

He isn’t just forcing outs, but he’s racking up the strikeouts as well. Through Kentucky’s first 10 games, he leads all Wildcat pitchers with 19 punch-outs. That’s good for 19th in the SEC and fifth in the conference among sophomore arms.

“I’d say I’m much more mature than I was last year both on and off the field,” Cleaver said following Kentucky’s 6-1 win over Hofstra on Saturday. “I feel like that has helped me eliminate going really high and really low, I just kind of try and stay in the middle the whole time.”

As a freshman last season, he certainly showed signs of greatness in just 6 1/3 innings pitched. Lingering injuries kept Cleaver from being last season’s midweek starter, but he really made himself known in Kentucky’s win over Florida on May 12, 2024. He entered with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning and struck out Florida pinch-hitter Landon Russell on three pitches with the tying runs in scoring position to clinch the series for the Cats.

At Media Day back in February, Nick Mingione had a sense of the jump that Cleaver would be making this season.

“Ben Cleaver has been our guy that if you asked ‘Coach Minge, what returning pitcher’s made the biggest jump?’ I’d tell you it’s been Ben Cleaver. He’s throwing the ball as well as anybody right now. Three and four pitches for a strike so I’m excited to see what he brings.”

Cleaver, who has been given the nickname of “Slim Reaper” by his teammates, is really stepping up to the challenge for Nick Mingione and Dan Roszel’s staff this season. After a freshman season of disappointing nagging injuries which kept him from starting, things are really coming up for the sophomore arm.

“I’ve wanted to be a starter my whole life and I’ve been blessed enough to have that opportunity this year,” Cleaver said. 

The Thompson Station, TN native will be back in action on Saturday, March 8 in Kentucky’s second game against Wofford.