Angels' Ben Joyce: Lands on IL with shoulder issue
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The Angels placed Joyce (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce is dealing with shoulder inflammation, which likely explains his noted drop in velocity earlier this week. Joyce expressed that he wasn't concerned following his Tuesday outing in which he allowed one home run and three earned runs during his one inning of work. With Joyce headed to the IL, the Angels have recalled Michael Darrell-Hicks from the minors.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Not worried about velocity drop
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Joyce said Wednesday that he's not concerned about the drop in velocity he experienced in his most recent outing Tuesday versus Tampa Bay, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce displayed the lowest in-game velocity of his big-league career on both his sinker and four-seamer in the outing, during which he gave up three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning. However, the right-hander stated one day later that his location was the issue rather than his velocity. Angels manager Ron Washington seemed similarly unconcerned following Joyce's appearance, stating, "He was fine. He's human. Tonight he just didn't have it," per Fletcher. Fantasy managers who roster Joyce certainly hope that the right-hander's velocity is back to normal the next time he takes the mound, but for the time being, it appears the fireballer isn't dealing with any sort of injury.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: No longer expected to close
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Joyce is unlikely to be the Angels' primary closer with the team's signing of Kenley Jansen (shoulder) on Monday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Angels and Jansen agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract Monday, which DiGiovanna notes will likely give Joyce "another year to grow into [the] closer role." It wouldn't make much sense for Los Angeles to have signed Jansen for any other reason than to serve as the team's primary closer, as he currently sits first among active players -- and fourth all-time -- with 447 regular-season saves. While Jansen may be nearing the end of his storied career, he showed he still has gas left in the tank with his performance for Boston last year, which included a 3.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28.4 percent strikeout rate and 27 saves. It's still likely that Joyce will get an occasional save opportunity, per Sam Blum of The Athletic, but at least for one season it appears he will be an understudy to Jansen, which cuts down Joyce's fantasy appeal in most formats considerably.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Done for season
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Angels manager Ron Washington confirmed Sunday that Joyce (shoulder) won't return from the 15-day injured list this season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce's placement on the IL is retroactive to Sept. 7, but the Angels won't rush him back for the final week of the season even though an MRI on his right shoulder returned clean. The hard-throwing right-hander has been diagnosed with an impingement in his right shoulder, but he should be in store for a normal offseason. Barring any high-profile additions to the bullpen this winter, Joyce will likely head into spring training as the favorite to open the 2025 campaign as the Angels' closer. After getting called up from the minors in early June, Joyce produced a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings while collecting two wins and eight holds and going 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Converts save Sunday
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Joyce allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.
Joyce's scoreless streak is up to seven innings over his last six appearances. In that span, he has three saves, a hold and a win while striking out eight and walking none. The flame-throwing right-hander is up to four saves and eight holds while pitching to a 2.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB through 33.2 innings in the majors this season.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Nabs second win
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Joyce (2-0) picked up the win over the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit over one inning while striking out one.
Joyce took over in the top of the ninth with the score tied at 4-4 and retired the leadoff batter before hitting Randy Arozarena with a pitch and then giving up a single to Justin Turner. However, the 23-year-old was able to work his way out of the jam and was then rewarded with his second win of the campaign when the Angels walked it off in the bottom of the frame. Joyce has not allowed any runs or walks in five straight appearances while posting seven strikeouts over that stretch. He has, however, allowed at least one hit in three consecutive outings.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Picks up four-out save
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Joyce struck out two and allowed one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Thursday's 3-0 win against the Tigers.
Joyce entered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and proceeded to strikeout Spencer Torkelson. Joyce then pitched a clean ninth inning to pick up his third save and second straight save of four or more outs. The 23-year-old gave up five runs in his first three appearances this season but has since been dominant, allowing three runs in his last 25 appearances.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Collects first save
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Joyce picked up the save over the Mets on Saturday, hurling 1.1 perfect innings while striking out one batter.
Joyce entered the contest with two outs in the top of the eighth and a runner on third and was able to get Tyrone Taylor to ground out to escape the frame. The right-hander returned for the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, topping things off with a swinging strikeout of J.D. Martinez on a 104 mph fastball to end the game and secure his first save of the campaign. It stands to reason that the dazzling performance will earn Joyce more save opportunities moving forward, especially after Hunter Strickland coughed up multiple runs in the seventh of Saturday's contest to put the Angels behind late. The former has not allowed a run since June 11 against the Diamondbacks.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Should work as closer
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Joyce is expected to operate as the Angels' closer after the trade of Luis Garcia on Tuesday.
Garcia was labeled the closer while Joyce was named the setup man and closer-in-waiting after the trade of Carlos Estevez over the weekend, and Garcia has now also been dealt. However, manager Ron Washington used Joyce in the eighth inning Tuesday while Hunter Strickland picked up the save, so it remains to be seen if the skipper sticks with the initial plan. Joyce still struggles to control his 101.8-mph fastball at times and has a 4.0 BB/9 this season, but that's an improvement from his first taste of the big leagues last year when he walked nine over 10 innings and had an 8.1 BB/9 at Triple-A. The right-hander has a 2.01 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB in 19 appearances this season.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Named setup man, closer-in-waiting
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Angels manager Ron Washington said Sunday that Joyce will work as the club's top setup man after the trade of Carlos Estevez, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Luis Garcia will step in as Anaheim's new closer, but he's also a candidate to be traded ahead Tuesday's deadline. If Garcia is dealt, Joyce will then be next in line for saves. The flame-throwing righty is averaging 101.8 mph on his fastball this season and has a 2.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 16:20 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Optioned to Double-A
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The Angels optioned Joyce to Double-A Rocket City on Friday.
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.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Rebounding from early spring rust
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After yielding five earned runs and five walks over his initial 1.1 innings this spring, Joyce has since allowed two earned runs and two walks over his subsequent six frames.
Joyce is expected to be part of the Angels' bullpen on Opening Day, but there may have been some initial doubt about his readiness after he struggled to harness his control in the early portions of Cactus League play. The flamethrower has since settled down, with his most recent outing being a scoreless one-inning appearance against the Cubs on Saturday. Joyce's improved results have coincided with a lowering of his strikeout rate -- over his past five frames, he's struck out a modest three batters. Though he consistently throws a triple-digit fastball, these results may suggest that the key to Joyce's success in the majors may be him learning how to use his impressive heater to generate poor contact rather than always relying on punching batters out.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Back from 60-day IL
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Joyce (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
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.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Moved to 60-day IL
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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.
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.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Set to resume throwing
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Joyce (elbow) is scheduled to play catch Monday on flat ground, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
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.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Expected to be placed on IL
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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 Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
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.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Call-up official
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The Angels selected Joyce's contract from Double-A Rocket City on Sunday.
Joyce will head to the big leagues less than a year after the organization selected the right-hander in the third round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. The right-hander boasts a fastball that can reach the triple digits with regularity, and he's registered a 3.27 ERA and 17:6 K:BB over his last 11 innings at Double-A. The 22-year-old has dealt with command issues at times, but he has the stuff to provide immediate help to the Los Angeles bullpen. He could get a chance to work in a high-leverage role for the Angels, though he may first have to prove himself in middle-relief situations.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Shows unsteady control in Double-A
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Joyce walked four batters in two-thirds of an inning in a Double-A game for Rocket City on Saturday.
In one of the most unique combined no-hitters to date, Rocket City took a 7-5 loss in the seven-inning affair. Joyce came in to finish off the no-no with his team up 3-0 in the seventh, but he allowed a run on four walks before a two-out error by Jeremiah Jackson in center field allowed three runs to cross the plate. Joyce garnered preseason buzz thanks to his 104 mph fastball and 10 strikeouts over 6.2 innings, but control issues were evident as he also walked six over that span. The Angels' bullpen has been middle-of-the road with a 3.62 ERA so far this season, and Joyce's name tends to come up as a potential call-up whenever an upgrade is discussed. However, he'll likely need to demonstrate improved control before the big club summons him to majors.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Avoiding altitude at Double-A
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Joyce will open the year with Double-A Rocket City due to the way the altitude in Salt Lake impacts pitching development, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
For a pitcher who was the talk of the Angels' bullpen during spring training and didn't get reassigned until this past weekend, it would have seemed likely for Joyce to open the year at Triple-A. As Blum notes, Chase Silseth was held at Double-A last year before getting promoted to the majors, so this is a tactic the Angels like to use with young pitchers given the alternative of sending them to the Pacific Coast League. Joyce is a strong candidate to pitch his way to the majors if he stays healthy and could be the Angels' long-term closer.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Joyce was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Angels on Friday.
Joyce showed off his impressive fastball during his time in camp with the Angels -- clocking as high as 104 mph on radar guns -- but he also walked five over six appearances to suggest his command isn't quite big-league ready. The former University of Tennessee star will open in the upper levels, and he could be an option for the Angels' bullpen before the end of 2023.
