Ben Joyce (baseball)

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20+2⁄3 innings pitched. [5] Joyce and his brother committed to transfer to Tennessee to continue their college careers. [6] Joyce tore the ulnar collateral ligament during a fall practice and had Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss his first season at Tennessee. [2] In his first healthy season at Tennessee as a redshirt junior, Joyce gained national attention for regularly throwing his fastball over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), reaching as high as 104 miles per hour (167 km/h). [7] [8] On May 1, 2022, he threw the fastest recorded pitch in the history of college baseball with a 105.5 miles per hour (169.8 km/h) fastball. [9] [10] Joyce finished the season with a 2.23 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 32+1⁄3 innings pitched over 27 appearances. [11]

Professional career

The Los Angeles Angels selected Joyce in the third round in the 2022 MLB draft. [12] He signed with the Angels on July 22, 2022, and received a $1 million signing bonus. [13] Joyce was assigned to the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas to start his professional career. [14] In Joyce's first professional game, he gave up four hits and two earned runs with a strikeout in one inning of relief pitching. [15] He finished his first professional season at 1–0 with a 2.08 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and a save in 13 appearances. [16]

In 2023, the Angels invited Joyce to spring training as a non-roster invitee. [17] In 14 appearances, he registered a 4.60 ERA with 24 strikeouts and four saves in 15+2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 28, 2023, Joyce was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [18] He made his major league debut the following day against the Chicago White Sox, pitching a scoreless inning in relief with two strikeouts. [19] After 5 appearances, he was placed on the injured list with ulnar neuritis on June 10. [20] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 27. [21] Joyce was activated from the injured list on September 10. [22] In 12 relief outings during his rookie campaign, he posted a 5.40 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 10 innings.

Joyce was optioned to Double–A Rocket City to begin the 2024 season. [23] On June 2, 2024, Joyce was recalled by the Angels. [24] On August 3, during a game against the New York Mets, Joyce struck out J. D. Martinez on a 104.7-mile-per-hour (168.5 km/h) fastball to get his first-ever save. It was the fastest strike-out pitch to be thrown in MLB since at least 2008, [25] and the sixth-fastest pitch thrown since 2009. [26] On September 3, Joyce struck out Los Angeles Dodgers' Tommy Edman on a 105.5-mile-per-hour (169.8 km/h) fastball. [27] Joyce was placed on the 15-day injured list on September 10, 2024, with the Angels announcing he would be shut down for the rest of the 2024 season. He finished the year with a 2-0 record and four saves with a 2.08 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 34+2⁄3 innings pitched. [28]

Personal life

Joyce's twin brother, Zach, played with Ben at Tennessee and was also selected by the Angels, going in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB draft. [29]

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References

  1. ↑ Venkataraman, Karthik (February 23, 2022). "Knoxville native, Farragut graduate Ben Joyce pitches a 103 mph fastball in Vols win". WBIR.com . Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Torres, Maria (March 11, 2022). "Tennessee's Ben Joyce — he of the 103.5 mph heater — is focused on his secondaries as his MLB Draft stock rises". The Athletic . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ McDaniel, Kiley (February 13, 2020). "University of Georgia, junior college pitchers show potential as top prospects". ESPN.com . Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ Nichols, Jake (March 25, 2022). "Baseball, Brotherhood and a Bond Never Broken: Meet Ben and Zach Joyce". SI.com . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ McKee, Ben (February 25, 2022). "Abnormal Ben Joyce dazzling in return from Tommy John". Rivals.com . Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. ↑ Lay, Ken (September 25, 2019). "Ben and Zach Joyce commit to Diamond Vols". Vols Wire. USA Today . Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. ↑ Adler, David (March 21, 2022). "College RHP blows away hitter with 104 mph heat". MLB.com . Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Wilson, Mike (February 23, 2022). "'It is abnormal:' Tennessee baseball's Ben Joyce throws 103 mph pitch vs UNC Asheville". Knoxville News Sentinel . Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  9. ↑ Schwartz, Jared (May 1, 2022). "Tennessee's Ben Joyce throws fastest pitch in college baseball history". New York Post . Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Ben Joyce throws fasted pitch in college baseball history". Buffalo News . May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (July 18, 2022). "He throws 105 mph … and the Angels just drafted him". MLB.com . Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Los Angeles Angels pick Tennessee baseball's Ben Joyce in 2022 MLB Draft". Knoxville News Sentinel . July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  13. ↑ Valenzuela, Sarah (July 23, 2022). "Angels pick Ben Joyce hardest college thrower ever: 105.5 mph". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ Ramey, Grant (August 7, 2022). "Ben Joyce is already throwing 100mph fastballs in Double-A". 247Sports.com . Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Ben Joyce 2022 College & Minor Leagues Game Logs & Splits". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ben Joyce College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Angels' Ben Joyce: Receives invite to camp". CBSSports.com. Paramount Global. RotoWire. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Angels' Ben Joyce: Contract selected from Double-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ Stebbins, Tim (May 29, 2023). "Joyce flashes 102 mph heat in stellar debut". MLB.com.
  20. ↑ "Angels' Ben Joyce: Placed on IL with ulnar neuritis". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Angels' Ben Joyce: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Angels' Ben Joyce: Optioned to Double-A". CBSSports.com. March 22, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Angels' Ben Joyce: Optioned to Double-A". cbssports.com. March 22, 2024.
  24. ↑ https://x.com/LAAngelsPR/status/1797315759393378355
  25. ↑ "Angels' Joyce hits 104.7 mph for game-ending K". ESPN. August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  26. ↑ Reedy, Joe (August 4, 2024). "104.7 mph: Angels' Joyce gets 1st save, strikes out Martinez on fastest pitch in majors this season". AP News. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  27. ↑ "105.5 mph!! Joyce records fastest strikeout ever tracked". MLB. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  28. ↑ Bollinger, Rhett (September 16, 2024). "José Soriano, Ben Joyce shut down but bullish for 2025". MLB.com . Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Angels' twin picks: Zach Joyce drafted by Halos, his brother Ben's team". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 11, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2024– via Reuters.
Ben Joyce
Los Angeles Angels – No. 44
Pitcher
Born: (2000-09-17) September 17, 2000 (age 24)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 29, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels current roster
Active roster
Inactive roster
Injured list
60-day Injured list
Coaching staff
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