BEN JOYCE NEWS

Ben Joyce primed for closing opportunities with Angels Manager Ron Washington says they would use Joyce, who has added an effective sinker, or Luis Garcia in the ninth inning if closer Carlos Est...

JULY 9, 2024 • DAILYNEWS.COM

Angels' hard-throwing Ben Joyce ready for chance against Astros Much of the Los Angeles Angels’ struggles this season can be blamed on an inconsistent and ineffective bullpen, but the club hopes the recen...

JUNE 8, 2024 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Optioned to Double-A The Angels optioned Joyce to Double-A Rocket City on Friday.

Impact The hard-throwing reliever held an 8.59 ERA and 6:9 K:BB over 7.1 innings this spring. Joyce could still be a key cog in the Angels' bullpen at some point this season, but he'll work on tightening things up in the minors first.

MARCH 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Angels put Joyce through 'chaos' to maintain composure PEORIA, Ariz. -- After hard-throwing relief prospect Ben Joyce struggled in his Cactus League debut on Feb. 26, allowing a grand slam after...

MARCH 7, 2024 • MLB.COM

Angels use 'chaos' to help Ben Joyce manage pressure Joyce has thrown as hard as 103 mph in the majors, but his issue has been losing his mechanics when he gets ‘amped up’ in game situations

MARCH 7, 2024 • DAILYNEWS.COM

Battling control this spring Through two Cactus League appearances this spring, Joyce has given up five earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out two batters over 1.1 innings.

Impact It's been a struggle for the fireballing reliever early in spring action, as he's had trouble finding the strike zone. In his first game, which came against the Giants on Feb. 26, Joyce served up three walks and a homer to yield four runs while getting just one out. He was able to complete a full inning his next time out but still gave up two walks, two hits and a run. Joyce issued nine walks in 10 innings in his first taste of the majors last year, and he was only slightly better at corralling his command in the minors. The right-hander's ability to throw triple-digit heat has him tabbed as a future closer and gives him a good chance of landing an Opening Day bullpen spot this season, but he'll need to get much better at limiting walks eventually if he's to find substantial big-league success.

MARCH 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up hold in return Joyce earned a hold with a scoreless inning against Cleveland on Sunday. He walked one batter and didn't collect any strikeouts.

Impact Joyce was activated from the 60-day IL earlier Sunday after missing three months with an elbow injury. The rookie didn't have pinpoint control in his return to game action -- he threw just seven of 15 pitches for strikes -- but was able to work a scoreless frame around a two-out walk. Joyce is among the organization's top pitching prospects and should get a good look as the non-contending Angels play out the string down the stretch.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back from 60-day IL Joyce (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Impact The right-hander has been sidelined since early June by an elbow injury, and he's been cleared to rejoin the Halos after a two-game rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire. Joyce is one of the organization's top prospects and allowed two earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB over four frames in his first taste of the big leagues before going down with the injury.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starts rehab assignment Joyce (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Low-A Inland Empire on Tuesday.

Impact Joyce struck out one in a scoreless inning in his first appearance in nearly three months as he works his way back from ulnar neuritis in his right elbow. Given the long layoff, the hard-throwing right-hander figures to require a handful of rehab appearances before rejoining the Angels' bullpen.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not throwing from mound Joyce (elbow) has been playing catch but hasn't thrown off a mound recently, MLB.com reports.

Impact Joyce tossed from a mound July 18 while rehabbing in Arizona, his first time doing so since going on the injured list June 10. However, the rookie reliever was pulled back from mound work soon thereafter, and he's again throwing only from flat ground. It's unclear if Joyce has experienced a significant setback, but even if the slowing down in his throwing progression was only precautionary, he's expected to be at least two weeks away from being ready to return to the Angels.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moved to 60-day IL Joyce (elbow) was transferred Thursday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact This is a procedural move to clear out a 40-man roster spot following the Angels' trade Wednesday for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. Joyce has been out since June 10 and will be sidelined through at least mid-August due to ulnar neuritis in his right elbow.

JULY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't throw off mound for 3-4 weeks Joyce (elbow) will continue his rehab in Arizona but isn't expected to be able to pitch off a mound for at least three weeks, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Joyce recently resumed throwing on flat ground after going on the injured list June 10 due to right ulnar neuritis. Though the rookie reliever appears to be making progress, he won't be rushed in his rehab and isn't slated to see mound work until at least the final week of July. With that timeframe in mind, Joyce is very unlikely to be ready to return to the big-league staff until sometime in August, at the earliest.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shohei Ohtani, Zac Gallen highlight Pitching Ninja's filthiest pitches of MLB season

Pitching Ninja returns with his breakdown of the filthiest pitches from the first half of the Major League Baseball season.

JUNE 27, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Set to resume throwing Joyce (elbow) is scheduled to play catch Monday on flat ground, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact It'll be his first time picking up a baseball since he went on the injured list June 10 due to right ulnar neuritis. Joyce told reporters last week that he no longer has numbness and tingling in his fingers. If all continues to go smoothly, the hard-throwing youngster could be ready to return to the Angels' bullpen sometime in mid-July.

JUNE 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Numbness gone from fingers Joyce (elbow) said Tuesday that he's no longer experiencing numbness and tingling in his fingers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Joyce landed on the injured list earlier this month with a diagnosis of right ulnar neuritis. There is no timeline for his return to the Angels, or when he might pick up a baseball again, but the hard-throwing 22-year-old seems to be responding well to a period of rest and treatment.

JUNE 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids ligament damage Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that an MRI on Joyce's right elbow revealed no ligament damage, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL earlier Saturday with what the Angels labeled as right ulnar neuritis, and that initial diagnosis looks as though it'll hold after the MRI turned up nothing concerning. The power right-hander had pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB in four innings over his first five appearances out of the Los Angeles bullpen prior to suffering the injury.

JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on IL with ulnar neuritis Joyce was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Angels on Saturday with right ulnar neuritis.

Impact Joyce is currently undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of his injury, but the right-hander will miss at least two-plus weeks with the injury. In his place, the Angels have selected the contract of Gerardo Reyes from Triple-A Salt Lake.

JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Currently undergoing MRI Joyce (hand) is an undergoing an MRI, and the results aren't expected to be available until after Saturday's game against the Mariners, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Impact Joyce is not on the lineup card for Saturday's game versus Seattle, so it's likely he'll be placed on the injured list regardless of the results. The right-hander left Friday's appearance without getting an out while dealing with hand irritation and numbness in his fingers. Gerardo Reyes has been recalled from Triple-A to take Joyce's place on the roster.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to be placed on IL Angels manager Phil Nevin told reporters after Friday's win over Seattle that Joyce (hand) is expected to be placed on the injured list prior to Saturday's game against the Mariner...

Impact Joyce left Friday's game without recording an out while experiencing irritation in his right hand, and he also reportedly felt some numbness in his fingers. The flame-throwing right-hander is likely to miss at last two weeks, but as Fletcher notes, Joyce won't have a clear timeline until he undergoes more testing Saturday.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Angels rookie pitcher Ben Joyce leaves during 6th inning due to right hand injury

Rookie reliever Ben Joyce left due to right hand irritation during the sixth inning of the Los Angeles Angels' game against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night

JUNE 10, 2023 • Associated Press

Leaves with hand irritation Joyce left Friday's game against the Mariners with right hand irritation, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Joyce left with a trainer after issuing a walk to Teoscar Hernandez and he wasn't able to record an out. The right-hander will likely need to undergo further testing, and he should be considered day-to-day until the Angels provide further update on his status.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leaves game with trainer Joyce left Friday's appearance against the Mariners with an apparent injury, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Joyce didn't record an out and issued a walk before exiting with a trainer. Jacob Webb entered the contest for the Angels in Joyce's absence. It's likely Joyce will undergo further testing, but for now the hard-throwing reliever should be considered day-to-day.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lighting up radar gun Joyce has thrown 21 of his 22 major-league pitches at over 100 mph, per Taylor Blake Ward of AngelsWin.com.

Impact Joyce's spectacular velocity is no secret -- his fastball was clocked as high as 105 mph in college before the Angels took him in the third round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. He struggled to harness control of the pitch at the Double-A level this season, walking 14 batters over 15.2 innings, but the Angels nonetheless fast-tracked him to the majors with a call-up Sunday. Joyce has shown huge promise in his first two games as a big-leaguer, posting a 4:0 K:BB over two scoreless frames. On Thursday, he fanned both Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez, each on three pitches, with all of the offerings being four-seam fastballs that clocked in at 101 or 102 mph. The Angels are set at closer this season with Carlos Estevez pitching well, but Joyce could see plenty of high-leverage work if he can continue to limit walks. The fireballer has the makings of a future closer, though he has some fantasy value even if he's not getting save chances due to his potential to rack up strikeouts in bunches.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bullpen report: A saves shakeup in St. Louis, Grant Anderson and Ben Joyce debut and more The return of Liam Hendriks and two big debuts in the Angels and Rangers bullpens highlight this week's Bullpen Report!

JUNE 1, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Ben Joyce Makes MLB Debut On Monday, former Tennessee Volunteers pitcher Ben Joyce debuted for the Los Angeles Angels against the Chicago White Sox.

JUNE 1, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM