Former Tennessee flamethrower Ben Joyce just gave Angels fans something to finally get excited about
It’s been another rough season in Anaheim, but Angel fans should soon have one of their most exciting players back.
It’s been a very forgettable season, once again, in Anaheim for the fans of the Los Angeles Angels.
The Angels have slumped to the basement of the AL West in 2026, a place where they might as well hang up pictures and unpack their suitcases with as much time as they’ve spent there the last few years. At 42-64, they’re looking up at everyone both in the AL West and the entire American League.
But there could be a much needed bright spot coming to the organization, and that’s the return of electric reliever Ben Joyce.
Former Tennessee Vols hurler Ben Joyce looks to have fully recovered from shoulder issue
Joyce underwent shoulder surgery last year that prematurely ended his 2025 season. He returned to spring training, but he was transferred to the 60-day injured list back in May as he worked to recover.
It appears as though that recovery process is nearing an end and Joyce is returning to his flamethrowing self. On Sunday for triple-A Salt Lake, Joyce threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout and got his fastball up over 103 miles per hour. He also topped out over 103 in a scoreless inning of relief on Thursday.
As such, it could be sooner than later that we see Joyce make his return to the big club. With the trade deadline approaching on Friday, it remains to be seen how the Angels decide to manage that time and handle their roster.
But regardless, with one of the most blazing fastballs in the sport, Angel fans should soon have a very exciting player to watch play again in an otherwise lost season.