Hard-throwing Angels reliever Ben Joyce out for season after right shoulder surgery
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Hard-throwing reliever Ben Joyce will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Angels’ season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder.
The Angels announced the setback Wednesday for Joyce, who went on the injured list a month ago with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.
The team declined to provide any specifics about the nature of the latest injury and surgery for the 6-foot-5 Joyce, who can throw a 105-mph fastball when healthy. His career has been slowed by several significant injuries since high school.
Angels manager Ron Washington said he doesn’t know whether Joyce will be ready for spring training in 2026.
“It’s the same reaction I had when we first lost him,” Washington said Wednesday in San Diego before the series finale against the Padres. “Could have been an asset, so now we know we don’t have that asset, at least this year.”
Joyce is in his third season with the Angels after making his major league debut in May 2023. After injuries limited him to 12 appearances that year, he rejoined the Angels in June 2024 and made 31 appearances last season, posting a 2.08 ERA and looking sharp as a setup man with a chance to become a closer.
He also threw a 105.5-mph fastball last September against the Dodgers’ Tommy Edman. The pitch was the third-fastest recorded in the majors since 2008.
But Joyce didn’t play again in 2024 after that game: He went on the injured list a week after throwing that pitch.
He made just five appearances this season before going on the list again after a downtick in his velocity. The Angels transferred him to the 60-day disabled list last week, raising alarms about another major injury setback.
The Angels hoped Joyce would be a high-leverage reliever this season alongside closer Kenley Jansen. His injury hurts the bullpen’s depth, and Washington hopes reinforcements can be found by Angels general manager Perry Minasian.
“Well, we got this far without (Joyce), so we’re going to have to figure it out,” Washington said. “Hopefully the people up top that make the decisions continue to look around and get us some help. I know we’re supposed to get (Robert) Stephenson back at some point this year, but it would be nice if they could find us some more help.”
Stephenson, an eight-year major league veteran, is currently on a minor-league rehab assignment. He signed a three-year deal with the Angels in January 2024, but still hasn’t pitched for the club after having Tommy John surgery a few months later.
Joyce has made 48 career appearances for the Angels, going 4-1 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
Joyce had Tommy John surgery during his college career at Tennessee, but he threw a 105-mph fastball when he returned from injury. He also missed a season of junior college play prior to joining the Volunteers due to a stress fracture in his elbow.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
