Ben Joyce is set to take another step in his comeback from right shoulder surgery, with the Los Angeles Angels announcing the right-hander will begin a rehab assignment with the Arizona Complex League Angels on Tuesday night.
The move marks a significant development in a recovery that has stretched more than a year. Joyce underwent shoulder surgery in May 2025 and has been on the injured list ever since. He attempted a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in late April but was shut down after four outings when his shoulder was not recovering well between appearances.
The 25-year-old resumed throwing off a mound in late June for the first time since that halt. His progression to a live game signals the organization believes he is ready to begin testing his arm in competition again.
He was drafted in the third round out of the University of Tennessee in 2022, where he threw the fastest pitch in college baseball history at 105.5 miles per hour. That velocity carried over to the big leagues, where he clocked 105.5 mph again in 2024, the fastest pitch in the majors that year.
In 49 career innings, Joyce owns a 3.12 ERA with 44 strikeouts. His best stretch came in 2024, when he posted a 2.08 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 34 2/3 innings before a shoulder issue cut his season short.
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Joyce signed a one-year, $810,000 contract with Los Angeles in March 2026. His return could provide a significant boost to a bullpen that has ranked among the worst in the American League this season.
Los Angeles enters Tuesday at 36-55, fifth in the American League West and on a six-game losing streak.
Joyce will need to work through multiple outings before advancing up the minor league ladder. If his shoulder responds well, a return to the big-league roster could come before the end of the season.
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