Tennessee Vols pitcher Ben Joyce did something that no MLB pitcher has ever done
Tennessee Vols right-handed pitcher Ben Joyce has turned into a household name this season thanks to his electric fastball that has reached 105 MPH on the radar gun. Joyce, a 6-foot-5 Knoxville native, has been used carefully by Vols head coach Tony Vitello this spring, due to the right-hander's return from Tommy John surgery (which […]
Tennessee Vols right-handed pitcher Ben Joyce has turned into a household name this season thanks to his electric fastball that has reached 105 MPH on the radar gun.
Joyce, a 6-foot-5 Knoxville native, has been used carefully by Vols head coach Tony Vitello this spring, due to the right-hander's return from Tommy John surgery (which he underwent in 2020, causing him to miss the entire 2021 season).
On Friday, Joyce was used for 3.1 innings of relief in Tennessee's 8-6 loss to Notre Dame in game one of a Super Regional matchup in Knoxville.
Joyce threw 64 pitches during his extended relief outing. 29 of those pitches were thrown 101 MPH or harder.
No MLB pitcher has ever thrown that many pitches over 101 MPH in a single game.
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene actually set the MLB record earlier this season for most 101 MPH + pitches in a game.
Greene threw 13 pitchers over 101 MPH in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 16.
What Greene is doing in MLB right now is completely ridiculous, which makes Joyce's accomplishments even more impressive.
Joyce will be selected in next month's MLB draft. He'll likely be selected in the first three or four rounds, despite only making one start at Tennessee. Whoever drafts Joyce will almost certainly try to use him as a starting pitcher at the next level.
Regardless of whether or not Joyce is a starter in MLB, his potential is sky-high. He could be a quality starter or he could be a shut-down closer. Whatever his role ends up being, I have no doubt that Tennessee fans will be keeping up with the soon-to-be-former Vol and cheering him on.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK