Matt Joyce (baseball)

Matt Joyce

Joyce with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Oakland Athletics
Outfielder
Born: (1984-08-03) August 3, 1984
Tampa, Florida
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 5, 2008, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .242
Home runs 106
Runs batted in 376
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Matthew Ryan Joyce (born August 3, 1984) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Pittsburgh Pirates. Joyce was an All-Star selection in 2011.

Early life

Joyce began his career at North Brandon Little League in Brandon, Florida. He graduated from Armwood High School, Seffner, Florida.

Joyce played baseball for Florida Southern College, and participated in the 2005 season which saw them win their ninth Division II national title. While playing for FSC Joyce participated in an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers in which the teams tied 2–2 after 10 innings.[1] Just days after the final game, Joyce was one of four players from that team selected in the draft; the others were Geoff Strickland, Jeff Howell, and Matthew Mercurio.

Minor league career

Joyce with the West Michigan Whitecaps, in 2006

The Detroit Tigers took Joyce in the 12th round and assigned him to the Single-A Oneonta Tigers, where he batted .332 on the year.[2][3]

In 2006, Joyce moved up to the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he batted .258 with 11 home runs and 86 RBIs as the Whitecaps captured the Midwest League's championship for the second time in three years.[4]

In 2007 the Tigers moved Joyce up to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, where he hit .257 but improved his power, hitting 17 home runs. The SeaWolves won their division that year but fell to the Akron Aeros in the playoffs. Joyce, along with fellow outfielder Clete Thomas, was considered a likely future major leaguer. Commenting on the two, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski remarked that, "We think they're both prospects... We're not counting on them for this year, but they've got a chance to play at the Triple-A level (this season), depending on how they do this spring."[3][5]

Major league career

Detroit Tigers

In 2008, Joyce was one of 21 non-roster invitees to Tigers' spring training. He said: "Your mind races... You're a step closer to the big leagues. It's a big accomplishment, but you have to take it in stride, have fun with it and not pressure yourself too much."[6]

In mid-March Joyce was part of the first-round of spring training cuts, and sent to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. For the season, he batted .270 for Toledo.

The Tigers called him up in early May to take Jacque Jones' spot on the roster.[7] In his major league debut, Joyce played right field and batted seventh in the lineup. In his first at bat, he drew a walk, but went hitless on the evening. Joyce hit his first big league home run on May 10, at home against the New York Yankees.[8] On May 29, Joyce lost his playing time to Marcus Thames, and he was subsequently sent to Toledo.[9] The Tigers recalled Joyce on June 29 after Magglio Ordóñez went on the disabled list with a pulled oblique.[10]

He batted .252 for the Tigers, in 242 at bats, primarily as a left fielder.[11]

Tampa Bay Rays

Joyce with the Tampa Bay Rays

On December 10, Joyce was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Edwin Jackson.[12]

In 2009, Joyce was an opening day starter for the Tampa Bay Rays, filling in for the injured B.J. Upton. He was sent back down to the minors shortly after. He spent the rest of the year with the Durham Bulls. He batted clean-up and hit 35 doubles with a slugging percentage well in the 400s.

He hit .188 in 32 at bats for the Rays, with a .270 on-base percentage.[11]

Joyce hurt his elbow early in 2010 spring training, and was on the disabled list. He was recalled to the active roster on June 24, after a minor league rehab stint. He filled the roster spot vacated by catcher Dioner Navarro, who was optioned to the Durham Bulls. Joyce hit a pinch-hit grand slam go-ahead home run in the 8th inning of the Rays-Twins game on July 3 at Target Field, moving to the starting right field position. Joyce hit a grand slam go ahead home run in the 6th inning of Matt Garza's no hitter against the Detroit Tigers, Joyce's former team.

He batted .241 in 216 at bats in 2010, playing right field (77 games) and left field (13 games), and as the designated hitter (11 games).[11]

In 2011, Joyce was selected to his first Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[13] He finished the year batting .277 with 19 Home runs, a career high for him.

On March 15, 2012, Joyce left a game with a jammed left wrist after sliding into second base and trying to make a diving catch. On July 17, 2012 he returned from the disabled list and led the Rays to a 4–2 win over the Cleveland Indians.[14][15]

During the 2012 season, Joyce played in 124 games for the Rays. He batted .241, with 17 homers and 59 RBI.[11]

In 2013 Joyce batted .235 with 18 Home runs, while appearing in 140 games for the Rays.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On December 16, 2014, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for Kevin Jepsen.[16] He played 93 games for the Angels in 2015, batting .174, with 21 RBIs and 5 home runs. He filed for free agency on November 2, 2015.[17]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On February 18, 2016, Joyce signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[18]

Oakland Athletics

Joyce signed a two-year, $11 million dollar deal with the Oakland Athletics on November 30, 2016.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Cobb, Mike (March 3, 2005). "TIGERS, MOCS MANAGE 2–2 TIE; SPRING TRAINING". The Ledger. p. C1.
  2. ↑ Brown, Rick (June 8, 2005). "FSC MAKES A MAJOR IMPACT; COLLEGE KNOW-HOW: FOUR MOCS JOINED BY PEARCE, ALONSO". The Ledger. p. C1.
  3. 1 2 "Matthew Joyce Statistics (Minor Leagues)". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Best of Midwest; Whitecaps cut down Kane County to claim MWL title". Grand Rapids Press. September 16, 2006. p. D1.
  5. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (November 9, 2007). "Dombrowski has inklings of deals but no inkings". Detroit Free Press.
  6. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (January 23, 2008). "LUCKY 21: Tigers announce 21 invitees to Lakeland". Detroit Free Press.
  7. ↑ Lowe, John (March 12, 2008). "Right-hander Porcello cut by Tigers". Detroit Free Press.
  8. ↑ "Red Sox get HRs from Lowell, Youkilis and Ortiz in 6–3 win". Associated Press. May 6, 2008.
  9. ↑ Archived January 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (June 29, 2008). "Tigers put Ordoñez on DL, call up Matt Joyce". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Matthew Joyce Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  12. ↑ Bill Chastain (January 15, 2006). "Rays ship Jackson to Tigers for Joyce". mlb.com. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  13. ↑ Topkin, Marc (July 3, 2011). "Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Joyce, David Price, James Shields named to AL All-Star team". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Daily Fantasy Leagues". USA Today Fantasy Sports. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  15. ↑ Steve Slowinski (July 18, 2012). "The Rays Tank: The Return Of Matt Joyce". DRaysBay. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Angels acquire Matt Joyce from Rays for Kevin Jepsen". HardballTalk. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  17. ↑ Who's Who in Baseball 2016
  18. ↑ "Pirates notebook: Matt Joyce to compete for fourth outfielder spot". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  19. ↑ http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/30/as-reach-agreement-with-outfielder-matt-joyce-on-two-year-deal/
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