Ben Joyce Bio
Benjamin Alan Joyce (born September 17, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Knoxville, Tennessee native is widely recognized for his extraordinary fastball velocity, which set new benchmarks at both the collegiate and professional levels. Joyce joined the Angels after being selected in the third round of the 2022 MLB draft and reached the majors the following year, where he has continued to attract attention for his power arm.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Alan Joyce grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended Farragut High School, where he developed his early interest in baseball. He entered high school at five feet five inches tall and weighed about one hundred pounds, a small frame that initially limited his opportunities. Joyce did not make the varsity baseball team until his junior year, by which time he had grown to six feet tall, signaling the physical transformation that would later help him become one of the hardest throwers in the game.
After high school, Joyce enrolled at Walters State Community College alongside his twin brother Zach, with the pair planning to continue their baseball careers together. His freshman season was cut short by a stress fracture in his elbow, but by the end of that year he had grown to six feet five inches, giving him the frame of a major league pitcher. The brothers later committed to transfer to the University of Tennessee to continue their development at a higher level of college competition.
Path to Baseball
Joyce’s college career was marked by both setbacks and breakthrough performances that pushed him onto the national radar. He tore the ulnar collateral ligament during a fall practice at Tennessee and required Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss his first season with the Volunteers. In his first healthy season as a redshirt junior, Joyce regularly threw his fastball above 100 miles per hour and reached as high as 104 miles per hour, drawing the attention of scouts and analysts across the country.
The defining moment of his amateur career came on May 1, 2022, when Joyce threw a 105.5-mile-per-hour fastball, the fastest recorded pitch in the history of college baseball. He finished that redshirt junior season with a 2.23 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 32 and one-third innings over 27 appearances, cementing his status as one of the top arms in the 2022 draft class.
Ben Joyce Career
Early Career (2022)
The Los Angeles Angels selected Joyce in the third round of the 2022 MLB draft, a reflection of his elite velocity and college production. He signed with the Angels on July 22, 2022, and received a one-million-dollar signing bonus. Joyce was assigned to the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas to begin his professional career, where he quickly adjusted to the rigors of professional hitting.
In his first professional game, Joyce gave up four hits and two earned runs while recording a strikeout in one inning of relief. He finished his debut professional season with a 1-0 record, a 2.08 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and a save across 13 appearances, offering a strong first glimpse of his potential.
MLB Breakthrough (2023)
In 2023, the Angels invited Joyce to spring training as a non-roster invitee, and he impressed with a 4.60 ERA, 24 strikeouts, and four saves across 14 appearances. On May 28, 2023, the Angels selected Joyce to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut the following day against the Chicago White Sox, pitching a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.
After five appearances, Joyce was placed on the injured list with ulnar neuritis on June 10, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 27. He was activated from the injured list on September 10 and finished his rookie campaign with a 5.40 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings across 12 relief outings, providing a foundation for the success that followed.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2024–Present)
Joyce was optioned to Double-A Rocket City to begin the 2024 season, but he soon returned to the major league club. On June 2, 2024, the Angels recalled Joyce, and he quickly made an impact in the Angels’ bullpen. On August 3, during a game against the New York Mets, Joyce struck out J.D. Martinez on a 104.7-mile-per-hour fastball to record his first major league save. That pitch was the fastest strikeout pitch thrown in MLB since at least 2008 and the sixth-fastest pitch recorded since 2009.
On September 3, 2024, Joyce struck out Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman on a 105.5-mile-per-hour fastball, matching the velocity he had produced in college. He was later placed on the 15-day injured list on September 10, with the Angels announcing he would be shut down for the remainder of the season. Joyce finished 2024 with a 2-0 record, four saves, a 2.08 ERA, and 33 strikeouts in 34 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joyce is best known for his overwhelming fastball velocity, which ranks among the most elite in professional baseball. His high-octane four-seam fastball routinely sits above 103 miles per hour and has reached as high as 105.5 miles per hour, making him a difference-maker in late-inning relief situations. Pairing that velocity with improving command has allowed him to carve out a high-leverage role in the Angels’ bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Joyce’s most significant milestones center on his record-setting velocity. His 105.5-mile-per-hour fastball in 2022 set the college baseball record, while his 104.7-mile-per-hour strikeout of J.D. Martinez in 2024 became the fastest strikeout pitch in MLB since at least 2008. He also matched his 105.5-mile-per-hour mark against the Dodgers later that same season, reinforcing his reputation as one of the hardest throwers in the modern game.
Ben Joyce Career Wins
While Joyce’s role as a late-inning reliever means his win totals are modest, his save totals and velocity milestones underscore his value to the Angels. Across his first full MLB season in 2024, he established himself as a reliable high-leverage arm, recording multiple saves and pairing strong ERA numbers with elite strikeout rates. His progression from third-round draft pick to major league closer has been accelerated by his ability to generate swings and misses with his premium fastball.
MLB Highlights
Joyce recorded his first major league save on August 3, 2024, against the New York Mets by striking out J.D. Martinez on a 104.7-mile-per-hour fastball. He finished the 2024 season with four saves and a 2.08 ERA across 34 and two-thirds innings, his most extensive major league workload to date. His debut scoreless inning against the Chicago White Sox on May 29, 2023, marked the start of his MLB career and provided an early signal of his strikeout ability at the highest level.
Other Wins & Performances
In the minor leagues, Joyce posted a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and a save in 13 appearances for the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2022. During his standout 2022 college season at Tennessee, he helped anchor the Volunteers’ pitching staff with a 2.23 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 32 and one-third innings across 27 appearances.
Ben Joyce Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joyce’s twin brother, Zach, played alongside him at both Walters State Community College and the University of Tennessee, where the two developed as pitchers. Zach was also selected by the Los Angeles Angels, going in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB draft, extending the family’s presence in professional baseball.
Personal Life
Joyce is a Knoxville, Tennessee native who has remained connected to his home community throughout his baseball career. He attended Farragut High School before beginning his college path at Walters State Community College and later the University of Tennessee.
2025 Season Performance
Joyce made five appearances for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, posting a 1-0 record and a 6.23 ERA with one strikeout across 4 and one-third innings pitched. His early-season workload was limited, and the Angels relied on him selectively as a reliever.
On May 14, 2025, the Angels announced that Joyce had undergone season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, cutting his 2025 campaign short. The procedure marked a significant setback in his progression, though the team expressed optimism about his long-term outlook given his prior success and elite velocity.
Looking beyond 2025, Joyce’s role as a high-leverage reliever with the Angels is expected to remain intact once he recovers. His combination of premium fastball velocity and late-inning experience should position him to return to high-leverage opportunities, with the potential to reclaim his 2024 form and continue building on his record-setting strikeout performances.