The Angels optioned Joyce to Double-A Rocket City on Friday.
The hard-throwing reliever held an 8.59 ERA and 6:9 K:BB over 7.1 innings this spring. Joyce could still be a key cog in the Angels' bullpen at some point this season, but he'll work on tightening things up in the minors first.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Rebounding from early spring rust
Rotowire
After yielding five earned runs and five walks over his initial 1.1 innings this spring, Joyce has since allowed two earned runs and two walks over his subsequent six frames.
Joyce is expected to be part of the Angels' bullpen on Opening Day, but there may have been some initial doubt about his readiness after he struggled to harness his control in the early portions of Cactus League play. The flamethrower has since settled down, with his most recent outing being a scoreless one-inning appearance against the Cubs on Saturday. Joyce's improved results have coincided with a lowering of his strikeout rate -- over his past five frames, he's struck out a modest three batters. Though he consistently throws a triple-digit fastball, these results may suggest that the key to Joyce's success in the majors may be him learning how to use his impressive heater to generate poor contact rather than always relying on punching batters out.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Battling control this spring
Rotowire
Through two Cactus League appearances this spring, Joyce has given up five earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out two batters over 1.1 innings.
It's been a struggle for the fireballing reliever early in spring action, as he's had trouble finding the strike zone. In his first game, which came against the Giants on Feb. 26, Joyce served up three walks and a homer to yield four runs while getting just one out. He was able to complete a full inning his next time out but still gave up two walks, two hits and a run. Joyce issued nine walks in 10 innings in his first taste of the majors last year, and he was only slightly better at corralling his command in the minors. The right-hander's ability to throw triple-digit heat has him tabbed as a future closer and gives him a good chance of landing an Opening Day bullpen spot this season, but he'll need to get much better at limiting walks eventually if he's to find substantial big-league success.
Joyce earned a hold with a scoreless inning against Cleveland on Sunday. He walked one batter and didn't collect any strikeouts.
Joyce was activated from the 60-day IL earlier Sunday after missing three months with an elbow injury. The rookie didn't have pinpoint control in his return to game action -- he threw just seven of 15 pitches for strikes -- but was able to work a scoreless frame around a two-out walk. Joyce is among the organization's top pitching prospects and should get a good look as the non-contending Angels play out the string down the stretch.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Back from 60-day IL
Rotowire
Joyce (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The right-hander has been sidelined since early June by an elbow injury, and he's been cleared to rejoin the Halos after a two-game rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire. Joyce is one of the organization's top prospects and allowed two earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB over four frames in his first taste of the big leagues before going down with the injury.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Starts rehab assignment
Rotowire
Joyce (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire on Tuesday, striking out one batter and allowing one hit over a scoreless inning.
Joyce's appearance for Inland Empire was his first at any level in nearly three months as he works his way back from ulnar neuritis in his right elbow. Given the long layoff, the hard-throwing right-hander will likely require at least another rehab outing or two before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Not throwing from mound
Rotowire
Joyce (elbow) has been playing catch but hasn't thrown off a mound recently, MLB.com reports.
Joyce tossed from a mound July 18 while rehabbing in Arizona, his first time doing so since going on the injured list June 10. However, the rookie reliever was pulled back from mound work soon thereafter, and he's again throwing only from flat ground. It's unclear if Joyce has experienced a significant setback, but even if the slowing down in his throwing progression was only precautionary, he's expected to be at least two weeks away from being ready to return to the Angels.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Moved to 60-day IL
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Joyce (elbow) was transferred Thursday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
This is a procedural move to clear out a 40-man roster spot following the Angels' trade Wednesday for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. Joyce has been out since June 10 and will be sidelined through at least mid-August due to ulnar neuritis in his right elbow.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Won't throw off mound for 3-4 weeks
Rotowire
Joyce (elbow) will continue his rehab in Arizona but isn't expected to be able to pitch off a mound for at least three weeks, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Joyce recently resumed throwing on flat ground after going on the injured list June 10 due to right ulnar neuritis. Though the rookie reliever appears to be making progress, he won't be rushed in his rehab and isn't slated to see mound work until the final week of July at the earliest. With that timeframe in mind, Joyce is unlikely to be ready to return to the big-league staff until sometime in August or September.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Set to resume throwing
Rotowire
Joyce (elbow) is scheduled to play catch Monday on flat ground, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
It'll be his first time picking up a baseball since he went on the injured list June 10 due to right ulnar neuritis. Joyce told reporters last week that he no longer has numbness and tingling in his fingers. If all continues to go smoothly, the hard-throwing youngster could be ready to return to the Angels' bullpen sometime in mid-July.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Numbness gone from fingers
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Joyce (elbow) said Tuesday that he's no longer experiencing numbness and tingling in his fingers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce landed on the injured list earlier this month with a diagnosis of right ulnar neuritis. There is no timeline for his return to the Angels or when he might pick up a baseball again, but the hard-throwing 22-year-old seems to be responding well to a period of rest and treatment.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that an MRI on Joyce's right elbow revealed no ligament damage, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL earlier Saturday with what the Angels labeled as right ulnar neuritis, and that initial diagnosis looks as though it'll hold after the MRI turned up nothing concerning. The power right-hander had pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 5:4 K:BB in four innings over his first five appearances out of the Los Angeles bullpen prior to suffering the injury.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Placed on IL with ulnar neuritis
Rotowire
The Angels placed Joyce (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right ulnar neuritis.
Joyce is currently undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of his injury, but the right-hander will miss at least two-plus weeks with the injury. The Angels have selected Gerardo Reyes's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace Joyce in the bullpen.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Currently undergoing MRI
Rotowire
Joyce (hand) is an undergoing an MRI, and the results aren't expected to be available until after Saturday's game against the Mariners, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Joyce is not on the lineup card for Saturday's game versus Seattle, so it's likely he'll be placed on the injured list regardless of the results. The right-hander left Friday's appearance without getting an out while dealing with hand irritation and numbness in his fingers. Gerardo Reyes has been recalled from Triple-A to take Joyce's place on the roster.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Leaves game with trainer
Rotowire
Joyce left Friday's game against the Mariners with an apparent injury, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Joyce didn't record an out and issued a walk before exiting with a trainer. Jacob Webb entered the contest for the Angels in Joyce's absence. The rookie will undergo further testing, but for now the hard-throwing reliever should be considered day-to-day.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Leaves with hand irritation
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Joyce left Friday's game against the Mariners with right hand irritation, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce left with a trainer after issuing a walk to Teoscar Hernandez and not being able to record an out in the outing. The right-hander will likely need to undergo further testing, and he should be considered day-to-day until the Angels provide further update on his status.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Expected to be placed on IL
Rotowire
Angels manager Phil Nevin told reporters after Friday's win over Seattle that Joyce (hand) is expected to be placed on the injured list prior to Saturday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Joyce left Friday's game without recording an out while experiencing irritation in his right hand, and he also reportedly felt some numbness in his fingers. The flame-throwing right-hander is likely to miss at last two weeks, but as Fletcher notes, Joyce won't have a clear timeline until he undergoes more testing Saturday.
