Uncommitted 2022 Video Spotlight: Michael Joyce
August 23, 2021
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With the summer coming to a close and a pending update of the Class of 2022 Rankings, we will spotlight some of the highest-ranked players from our old rankings who remain uncommitted:
Scouting Report
VA/DC Scout Blog
Joyce has a strong athletic frame with projection left to it. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds and looks every bit of it. Got the start on the mound for Atlee, throwing four and two thirds innings. Repeats delivery well on the mound. Full loose arm swing, three-quarter arm slot, and lands slightly closed at landing. Joyce showed four pitches, but was mainly a fastball/breaking ball mix. The fastball was 86-89 mph early on and faded to 83-86 into the fourth and fifth innings. The curveball had varying shapes at 69-72 mph and lacked arm and hand speed. The slider, used in the second inning and beyond, was more effective and showed better shape and speed at 75-77 mph with some late depth. The changeup had average feel for the zone and was not used much, but was fairly effective off of the fastball. It sat between 79-80 mph. Joyce looked to tire later into the outing and the feel for the zone was more control than command.
Richmond Braves Workout
Strong athletic frame at 6-foot, 195-pounds. Strong catch and throw tendencies from behind the plate. Physical hitter with power potential to all fields. Doesn't have a lot of swing and miss to the swing and is physical enough that any bad contact still has a chance to get through because of his strength. On the mound Joyce threw three pitches for strikes and commanded the glove side with a 84-87 mph fastball. Slider was 75-78 mph with tight shape and 11/5 break. The curveball lacked arm speed at times, but still showed above average feel for the 11/5 breaker that sat at 69-72 mph.
Mid-Atlantic Summer Championship
Projectable athletic frame at 6-foot, 190-pounds. Joyce is a legitimate two-way prospect behind the plate and on the mound. On the mound the JMU commit sat 84-86 and topped at 87 throughout his work on the mound. Easy effort with some arm side run at times. Curveball sat 65-66 and looked to be a developing pitch, but the slider /cutter was firm at 69-71 and was his best secondary pitch on the day. At the plate he shows power potential from the right side. Stance starts very slightly open and lands on line with a simple stride forward. Hands load back in rhythm and barrel gets on plane early. Slightly uphill path with gap to gap power and solid usage of the lower half. Barreled up multiple balls on the weekend.