Ben Joyce Fantasy Stats

The Los Angeles Angels announced on Thursday that right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is moving his minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake. Joyce, a third-rounder in 2022 out of the University of Tennessee, has been on the injured list all year due to a right-shoulder injury, but he has appeared in eight minor-league rehab games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, and he appears to be nearing his 2026 debut with the Halos. The 25-year-old can hit triple digits with his fastball and has the stuff to settle in as the team's primary closing option down the stretch, especially when considering the last-place Angels are currently rolling with a closer-by-committee situation involving Ryan Zeferjahn, Sam Bachman, and Kirby Yates. Of course, the Angels aren't the best bullpen to target for fantasy purposes, but fantasy managers who are desperate for saves should have Joyce on their watch radar as he nears the end of his rehab assignment. Joyce is currently rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ben Joyce (shoulder) has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season as he works his way back from the shoulder surgery that has kept him out since May 2025. However, the 25-year-old began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League before the All-Star break, so he could be on track to return to the Angels bullpen before the end of July. Joyce struggled in a limited sample size of innings in 2025 before suffering the shoulder injury. Still, he was an effective reliever for the Angels in 2024, recording a 2.08 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and four saves across 34 2/3 innings. Joyce is known for his electric fastball, which he threw at an average velocity of 102.4 miles per hour in 2024. Los Angeles has had difficulty filling its closer role so far this season, with right-handers Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates, and Sam Bachman currently sharing ninth-inning duties. If Joyce can prove he is fully healthy, he could be the favorite for saves with the Angels upon his return to the big leagues.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list to open 2026, per Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune. Joyce is working his way back from the surgery he underwent in May 2025 to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The 25-year-old fireballer struggled in a very limited sample size before getting injured last season, pitching to a 6.23 ERA in 4 1/3 innings. However, Joyce showed flashes of dominance in 2024, averaging over 102 mph on his fastball and pitching to a 2.08 ERA with four saves across 32 1/3 innings. When healthy, Joyce may be the favorite to work as the Angels' primary closer. With both Joyce and veteran right-hander Kirby Yates (knee) sidelined to start the year, Jordan Romano could get the first chance at regular save opportunities for Los Angeles in 2026.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session on Friday. According to Jeff Fletcher, Joyce looked good and was able to mix in secondary pitches as well. The 25-year-old is currently on track to be ready by Opening Day. He's working his way back from a torn labrum that required surgery in May of last year. The Angels are hopeful that Joyce can be an impactful late-inning reliever for them this season. In 2024, Joyce registered a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 33/14 K/BB ratio across 31 games. The 25-year-old could be the closer of the future, assuming he's able to tap into his full potential.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitchers Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Prior to Tuesday's session, neither pitcher had thrown off the mound this spring. Joyce is working his way back from a torn labrum, which required surgery in May 2025. During his last healthy season in 2024, he posted a 2.08 ERA with 8.57 K/9, 3.63 BB/9, and 0.26 HR/9. The right-hander is capable of hitting 102 mph with his fastball, offering the Angels an effective leverage arm out of the bullpen. Stephenson's injury luck has been even worse. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and shortly after his return in May 2025, he was shut down again with a stretched nerve in his biceps. He returned for 10 outings in the fall before being placed back on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He logged just 10 innings last year, posting a 2.70 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. These numbers fall a bit lower than his career averages, and it remains to be seen how much his effectiveness has changed amid all of his injury problems.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is playing catch at spring training, but manager Kurt Suzuki said it's too early to tell if Joyce will be ready for Opening Day, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The Angels are taking it day by day with Joyce for now. The hard-throwing 25-year-old missed most of last season after having surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder. He appeared in only five games, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in 4 1/3 innings. There are plenty of question marks for the back end of the Angels' bullpen going into the 2026 season with Kenley Jansen no longer around. Right now, Robert Stephenson, Drew Pomeranz, and Kirby Yates are set to work in a closer committee, but Joyce will be involved as well, depending on his health.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) told reporters on Monday that he expects to start throwing within a month as he recovers from May surgery on his right shoulder. Joyce won't make it back this season, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for spring training, but he said that his rehab is "going great." The hard-throwing Joyce burst on the scene in 2024 with a 2.08 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 33:14 K:BB over 34 2/3 innings. He was unable to follow up on that this season, though, as he landed on the injured list on April 11 after just five appearances and 4 1/3 innings of three-run ball.

The Los Angeles Angels announced on Wednesday that right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is expected to miss the rest of the 2025 season after having surgery to fix his right shoulder on Wednesday morning. It's a blow for the hard-throwing right-hander and for an already weak Angels bullpen. The 24-year-old former third-round pick in 2022 out of Tennessee was shut down earlier in May with more right-shoulder issues and will now undergo surgery. There's no timetable on when Joyce will be able to return, but fantasy managers shouldn't automatically expect him to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. In his five appearances out of the bullpen before his injury in 2025, Joyce allowed four runs (three earned) while walking one and striking out one in 4 1/3 innings. Depending on his health, Joyce has the stuff to be the team's closer of the future.

The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $10 million deal on Tuesday, which will give 24-year-old right-hander Ben Joyce another year to grow into the closer role for the Angels. While Jansen will most likely be L.A.'s primary ninth-inning arm, he's also 37 years old and an injury risk, so Joyce's fantasy value could shoot back up quickly if Jansen ends up missing significant time due to an injury in 2025. But there's also no denying the fact that the signing of Jansen puts a huge damper on Joyce's fantasy prospects for the Halos this year. Joyce should still see the occasional save on days where Jansen is being rested, but one of the hardest throwers in the game will now be relegated to a high-leverage setup for the Angels this year.

According to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Ben Joyce is expected to be the "favorite" to be the team's closer to open the 2025 season. However, Bollinger noted that Joyce has yet to prove he can stay healthy for an entire season, which could open the door for other relievers to earn save opportunities. Bollinger mentioned that Robert Stephenson (elbow) will likely get a few looks when he recovers from his UCL surgery. Joyce pitched 34 2/3 innings of work in the major last summer. After allowing five runs over his first three outings, he held a near-perfect 0.83 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over his final 32 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Joyce's status during spring training but should expect him to open the season as the team's top closer. However, fantasy managers should draft him with caution, given his injury history and the possibility that the Angels continue to ease his workload.