2022 Most Viewed Profiles: No. 1 Ben Joyce

2022 MLB Draft: Joyce's fastball velocity is well-known. He easily tops the college charts, throwing a 105.5 mph heater this spring, while consistently sitting 100-102 during most of his 27 appearances. With more control of throwing into the strike zone, than command of spotting up to a location, Joyce had 14 walks vs 53 strikeouts this season in 32.1 IP. The right-hander has made tremendous improvement to both his arm action and delivery since his days in junior college and after a Tommy John surgery at Tennessee in the fall of 2020. He's extremely flexible and uses his lower half really well, creating big whip to his arm action. He has also firmed up his front side when landing. With a firmer front side, his breaking ball has also improved, morphing from a 73-75 loose spinner that he threw in juco into a present low-80s slider with much tighter spin (2620 rpm average). Cutting to the chase on what to make of a 100+ mph reliever in terms of draft value. Joyce is a better prospect than what another 100 mph arm – Joe Boyle (Notre Dame) – was at the same time in his college career. Joyce is also a far better prospect than former Volunteer flame-thrower Andrew Schultz. Boyle was selected in the 5th round by the Reds in 2020 and Schultz the 6th round by the Phillies in 2021. Expect Joyce to be considered starting towards the end of Day One or late in the second round.

Joyce's fastball velocity is well-known. During his most recent relief appearance against Missouri, it ranged from 99 to 101 mph during a one inning, 19-pitch outing. With more control of throwing it into the strike zone, than command of spotting up to a location, Joyce has just four walks vs 20 strikeouts this season in 11.2 IP. He has made tremendous improvement to both his arm action and delivery since his days in junior college – February 2020 JUCO Crosscheck Report. He has smoothed out and lengthened the once shorter and funky arm motion, as well as improved his deception. He has a large range of motion and uses his lower half extremely well creating big whip. He has also firmed up his front side when landing. With a firmer front side, his breaking ball has also improved, morphing from a 73-75 loose spinner that he threw in junior college into a present low-80s slider with much tighter spin (2620 rpm average). His current breaker showed top scale horizontal movement, but on this look he did not show much control of the sweep. More concerning was how he attempted to make the ball break. Similar to his junior college days, a tendency to twist his wrist to create the action, instead of snapping it off with grip, was still noticeable. Cutting to the chase on what to make of a 100+ mph reliever in terms of draft value. Joyce is a better prospect than what another 100 mph arm – Joe Boyle (Notre Dame) – was at the same time in his college career. Joyce is also a far better prospect than former Volunteer flame-thrower Andrew Schultz. Boyle was selected in the 5th round by the Reds in 2020 and Schultz the 6th round by the Phillies in 2021. Expect Joyce to be considered starting in the 3rd round this summer. With that said, if more consistent action and control of the slider progresses between now and the draft, Joyce would be more widely viewed as a guy who could move very quickly into a Major League bullpen, thus giving him even higher pick consideration.

Pitched three innings, allowed three hits, three runs, three walks and punched out four during his start against Chipola. His three walks all occurred during his last inning when the strike zone shrunk from the previous innings. With a short and funky arm action Joyce has more in the tank than the 93-96 (T97) mph heater he showed on this look. He lands soft on his front leg and does not lead leg block. He may benefit by landing more towards his heel to assist with throwing against a firmer front side. Also, as a result, his 73-75 mph curveball was flat and below average. He tended to aim and twist his wrist rather than snap it off with grip and hand speed. His top off speed offering was a 81-86 mph changeup thrown with good arm speed, all to his arm side. Showed some confidence with the pitch as well, throwing it on a 3-2 count. Due to the early rise in back with his hand/ball after his hand/glove break there isn’t much deception in his delivery causing hitters to get a better look and causing his fastball to play down a bit. However, just on body type and velocity alone Joyce is a Day Two prospect. How high will be determined by his performance and the development of his off speed pitches this spring. He is committed to Tennessee.

Max FB: 87, FB: 85-87, SL:69-70
6-3, 185-pound, RHP gets closed early and uses an uptempo pace throughout his delivery, gets loaded at the top and uses his athleticism to get down the mound by a slightly closed stride, quick arm has no trouble getting out front, long and loose arm action comes through a 3/4 slot.  Fastball showed hard run through the zone and his slider was very sharp with 11/5 to 10/4 shape and the potential to be a swing-and-miss pitch.

 Max FB: 82, FB: 81-82, CB: 66-67, CH: 78,
6-foot-1, 166-pound, RHP showed an ability to really pitch by commanding the zone and getting ahead in counts, pitched with confidence and solid tempo, gathers with his whole body at the top of his leg lift and attacks the plate with an aggressive stride that stays in line, follows through well and lands with a balanced base, long and pretty loose arm action comes through a high ¾ release with some conviction.  Fastball showed hard run all the way through the zone and was spotted up a number of times, curveball displayed 11/5 shape with some late bite to it that had some guys chasing, changeup was a decent change of pace and died a little at the plate.