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Matt Joyce
Joyce with the Atlanta Braves in 2019
Outfielder
Born:(1984-08-03)August 3, 1984(age 40)
Tampa, Florida,U.S.
Batted:Left
Threw:Right
MLB debut
May 5, 2008, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 2021, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Batting average.242
Home runs149
Runs batted in503
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Matthew Ryan Joyce[1](born August 3, 1984) is an American formerprofessional baseballoutfielder,who played 14 seasons inMajor League Baseball(MLB). Between 2008 and 2021, he played for eight MLB teams, most notably theTampa Bay Rays,with whom he was named anMLB All-Starin 2011.

Raised by a single father inTampa, Florida,Joyce frequently attended Rays games atTropicana Fieldas a child. TheDetroit Tigersattended anexhibition gamethat Joyce played withFlorida Southern Collegeand selected him in the 12th round of the2005 MLB Draft.Joyce debuted with the Tigers in 2008 and was traded to the Rays the following season. After five years inSt. Petersburg, Florida,Joyce was traded to theLos Angeles Angels,where his performance suffered after a 2015concussion.

After stints with thePittsburgh Pirates,Oakland Athletics,andAtlanta Braves,as well as minor-league appearances for theCleveland IndiansandSan Francisco Giants,Joyce signed a one-year deal with theMiami Marlinsin 2020. There, he helped Miami reach their firstMajor League Baseball postseasonappearance since 2003. Joyce retired from professional baseball after a stint with thePhiladelphia Philliesin 2021, becoming asports analystfor the Rays.

Early life

[edit]

Matthew Ryan Joyce was born inTampa, Floridato Matthew Ryan Joyce Sr. and Vallie Klein.[2]When Matt Jr. and his sister Danielle were youngsters, their mother, Vallie, who was dealing with substance abuse problems, left the children's father and took the rest of the family toNew Jersey.Matt Sr. obtained a court order to reclaim his children, and raised Matt and Danielle as a single father, with the help of Vallie's mother, Patricia Klein.[3]Joyce's father encouraged his son to learn baseball, helping with backyard batting practice and giving his son the nickname "Slugger" at the age of 10.[4]

A childhood fan of theTampa Bay Devil RaysofMajor League Baseball(MLB), Joyce frequently attended home games atTropicana Field.His favorite Ray wasFred McGriff,while his overall favorite baseball player wasKen Griffey Jr.[5]Joyce's baseball career began with the North Brandon Little League inBrandon, Florida.[6]He went on to attendArmwood High SchoolinSeffner, Florida,where he described his athletic performance as not "too ridiculous as far as being that far above everybody."[5]Joyce was the second Armwood baseball player to play in MLB, following left-handedpitcherSterling Hitchcock,and Armwood retired his No. 24 jersey in February 2009.[7]

College career

[edit]

Although Joyce received offers to playcollege baseballfor theUniversity of Tampaand theUniversity of South Florida,he chose to attendFlorida Southern College,who offered him an opportunity to begin playing as a freshman. As a sophomore in 2005, Joyce earned All-Sunshine State Conferencehonors and helped lead Florida Southern to their ninthNCAA Division IItitle.[8]

TheDetroit Tigerstook notice of Joyce when they played anexhibition gameagainst Florida Southern duringspring trainingin 2005. That year, the Tigers selected Joyce in the 12th round of the2005 MLB Draft,and he signed with the team shortly afterwards.[8]In three seasons with Florida Southern, Joyce hit 22home runsand had 121runs batted in(RBIs) in 170 games. Statistically, his best season was as a freshman in 2003, when hebatted.329 with eight home runs, 44 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Florida Southern retired Joyce's No. 24 jersey in January 2018.[9]

Minor league career

[edit]
Joyce with theWest Michigan Whitecapsin 2006

After being drafted in the 12th round of the2005 MLB draftby theDetroit Tigers,Joyce spent the 2005 season with theClass A Short SeasonOneonta Tigersof theNew York–Penn League.There, he lived at a dormitory atHartwick College,in the same hall asBurke BadenhopandWill Rhymes,all of whom would remain teammates as they moved through the Tigers'farm system.[10]He played 65 games with Oneonta that season, batting.332 and recording four home runs and 46 RBIs in 247at bats.[11]

The following year, Joyce was promoted to theClass AWest Michigan Whitecaps.He struggled in the jump to Class A; by mid-May, his batting average had fallen under.200, and he had suffered an injury to hisquadriceps.ManagerMatt Walbecktold Joyce to focus on changing his mindset as he approached the plate rather than working on his physical ability, and Joyce credits this mental approach to his improvement over the course of the season. He finished 2006 with a.258 average and 11 home runs, and led the team with 86 RBIs. The Whitecaps went on to win theMidwest Leaguechampionship.[12]In 2013, fans voted Joyce onto the Whitecaps All-Time Team, and in 2019, he was inducted into the Whitecaps Hall of Fame.[13][14]

Joyce was promoted to theDouble AErie SeaWolvesin 2007, and once again suffered an early-season slump. By May 19, his batting average had sunk to.168.[15]He had recovered by the end of the season, finishing with a.257 average, 17 home runs, and 70 RBIs in 456 at bats and 130 games.[11]Joyce, along with fellow outfielderClete Thomas,was considered a likely future major leaguer. Commenting on the two, Tigersgeneral managerDave Dombrowskiremarked 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."[16]

Major league career

[edit]

Detroit Tigers (2008)

[edit]

Joyce began the 2008 season with theTriple AToledo Mud Hens,with whom he hit.299 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in the team's first 28 games. After outfielderJacque Joneswasdesignated for assignmentin early May, Joyce was called up to the Tigers in his stead.[17]He made his major league debut on May 5, 2008, starting in right field for a 6–3 loss to theBoston Red Sox.[18]His first major league home run followed shortly after, in a 5–2 loss to theNew York Yankeeson May 10. Joyce told reporters that he initially did not think he had hit a home run, as he saw Yankees outfielderBobby Abreurunning for the ball, but "[t]hen I heard the crowd start cheering, so I knew it had gone out."[19]

After a strong first impression, Joyce began to struggle with hitting againstcurveballsandchangeups.Joyce believed that he was putting too much effort into impressing the major league coaches.[20]He was optioned back to Toledo at the end of May to make room for outfielderMarcus Thames.[21]He returned to the Tigers on June 29 whenMagglio Ordóñezwas placed on thedisabled listwith a pulled oblique, remaining in thelineupeven after Ordóñez returned. Joyce was named theAmerican League(AL) Player of the Week on July 19. He was the first rookie position player for the Tigers to win the award sinceTony Clarkin 1996.[20]In his rookie season, Joyce batted.252 in 92 games with the Tigers and.270 in 56 games with the Mud Hens.[11][22]

During the offseason, Joyce played for theÁguilas de Mexicaliof theMexican Pacific League.[23]He batted.295 in 35 games with Mexicali, striking out less against curveballs.[11][24]

Tampa Bay Rays (2009–2014)

[edit]

On December 10, 2008, the Tigers traded Joyce to the Tampa Bay Rays[a]in exchange for pitcherEdwin Jackson.[24]Although Joyce missed time in spring training due to tendinitis in his leg, he was named to the Rays'Opening Dayroster afterB. J. Uptonsustained a shoulder injury.[26][27]On April 9, Joyce hit his first major league home run, a solo shot off ofDaisuke Matsuzakain the second inning of a 4–3 victory over theBoston Red Sox.[1][28]When Upton returned from the disabled list on April 13, Joyce was optioned to the Triple-ADurham Bulls.Joyce played only three games with the Rays in his first major-league call-up, and his onlyhitin 10 at bats was the home run against Matsuzaka.[29]In the minor leagues, Joyce helped the Bulls capture theTriple-A National Championshipin a 5–4 victory over theMemphis Redbirds.[30]He batted.273 in Triple-A, with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs in 111 games.[11]

Joyce with the Tampa Bay Rays

Joyce missed the first half of the Ray's2010 seasonafter injuring his elbow during spring training. He returned to the team on June 25, and the Rays optioned catcherDioner Navarroto make room in the lineup.[31]In his first game upon returning, Edwin Jackson, for whom Joyce had been traded, pitched ano-hitteragainst the Rays.[32]Later that season, on July 27, Joyce hit agrand slamin the sixth inning ofMatt Garza's no-hitter against the Tigers. His home run was also the first hit of the game, against Detroit starting pitcherMax Scherzer.[33]It was the second grand slam of his career, following an eighth-inning blast against theMinnesota Twinson July 3.[34]He batted.241 for the season, with 10 runs and 40 RBIs in 216 at bats.[22]Joyce also appeared in the2010 American League Division Series(ALDS), against theTexas Rangers.Hispop flyin Game 4 allowedCarlos Peñato score, brought the Rays back from a 2–1 series deficit, and forced a deciding Game 5.[35]The Rangers went on to take the series, breaking a 39-year postseason drought.[36]In nine postseason at bats, Joyce hit.222, with two hits and one stolen base.[22]

After a lukewarm spring training performance, Joyce found his stride in 2011, leading the league with a.370 batting average by June 1.[37][38]He received his firstAll-Star Gameselection that season, alongside fellow RaysJames ShieldsandDavid Price.[39]He cooled a bit after the All-Star break, finishing the season with a.277 average, 19 home runs, and 75 RBIs.[40]The Rays spent the final part of a season deadlocked with the Red Sox in theWild Cardrace. On the final day of the regular season, a three-run home run from Joyce helped the Rays clinch a Wild Card berth, leading to a series against the Yankees.[41]The Rays once again lost to the Rangers at the2011 ALDSin a 3–1 series.[42]Joyce appeared in all four games, where he batted.200 and scored one home run and four RBIs.[22]Rays managerAndrew Friedmanquickly signed Joyce to a one-year, $499,500 contract over the offseason.[40]

Joyce hit his third career grand slam on May 19, 2012, in the third inning of a 5–2 game against theAtlanta Braves.[34]In June, Joyce was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain, with recent acquisitionBen Zobristtaking his place in the outfield.[43]Joyce's injury, combined with an extended absence fromEvan Longoria,caused a downturn in the Rays' season. By the time that Joyce returned, the Rays had lost 19 of their last 30 contests and had sacrificed their lead in theAL Eastto the Yankees.[44]Joyce missed 23 games before returning on July 17, and Rhymes was optioned to Durham to make room on the roster.[45]Joyce batted.241 for the season, with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs in 124 games.[22]

The Rays avoidedarbitrationwith Joyce going into the 2013 season, agreeing to a one-year, $2.45 million contract.[46]In the second game of the season, Joyce recorded his firstwalk-off home runagainstTommy Hunterof theBaltimore Orioles,winning the game 8–7.[47]The following month, he hit a two-RBI double in the ninth inning of a game against the same team, helping the Rays win 10–6, and breaking the Orioles' 109-game winning streak when leading after seven innings.[48]Overall, Friedman described Joyce's 2013 performance as "up-and-down... where there were a couple hot months and a couple months where he struggled more." He hit.235 with 18 home runs and 47 RBIs in 481plate appearances.[49]Going into the2013 ALDSagainst the Red Sox, Joyce was in an offensive slump, hitting.089 in the final 21 games of the regular season.[50]Joyce continued his slump into the playoffs, going 0 for 8 in the four-game series.[22]

Joyce's contract increased in his second year of arbitration, as he agreed to a one-year, $4.7 million deal with the Rays in 2014. He remained in the outfielder anddesignated hitterrotation alongsideDavid DeJesus,Desmond Jennings,andWil Myers.[49]After a slow start to the season, in which he hit no home runs for over a month, Joyce tied Rays franchise records with five hits and 12total baseswhen he hit two home runs in a 12–7 win against the Orioles on June 29.[51]The game came just over a week after Joyce gained some notoriety for hitting a ball back into apitching machineduring batting practice.[52]Joyce had another productive season in 2014, hitting.254 with nine home runs, but a projected raise to $5 million and steep outfield competition from Jennings, Myers, DeJesus, andKevin Kiermaier,made the Rays seek to trade him at the conclusion of the year.[53][54]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2015)

[edit]
Joyce with the Angels in 2015

On December 14, 2014, the Rays traded Joyce to theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheimin exchange for right-handed relieverKevin Jepsen.The Angels were interested in having Joyce serve as their primary designated hitter.[55]On February 10, 2015, Joyce signed a one-year, $4.75 million contract with the Angels.[56]

Early in the 2015 season, Joyce was scratched from a game against theToronto Blue Jaysafter arriving late to batting practice. He was later fined by the MLB. He told theLos Angeles Timesthat he assumed the Monday game was at night and not in the early afternoon, and he worried that the mistake would cause friction with managerMike Scioscia.[57]Troubles continued to follow Joyce, who sustained a concussion after colliding with shortstopErick Aybarin the fourth inning of a 13–7 victory over theTexas Rangerson July 26.[58]Although he was eligible to leave the concussion list seven days later, Joyce continued to suffer from residual headaches andwhiplashafter the injury.[59]He appeared in only six games in the month of September, and his final hit of the season was on July 9.[60]Joyce batted.174 in 2015, with 43 hits, 21 RBIs, and five home runs in 247 at bats.[22]At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Joyce became a free agent.[61]

Pittsburgh Pirates (2016)

[edit]

On February 20, 2016, thePittsburgh Piratessigned Joyce to a minor league deal, including an invitation to spring training and a chance to make the major league roster.[62]Throughout spring training, he was in competition withSean RodriguezandJake Goebbertfor a bench position as the Pirates' fourth outfielder.[63]

Joyce had a career revival with the Pirates, hitting.360 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in his first 40 games.[64]Although he was rarely used as an outfielder, Joyce established himself as an effectivepinch hitter.In addition to setting an all-time single-season MLB record for pinch-hit walks with 21 in 81plate appearances,Joyce led all pinch hitters that season in RBIs with 15 and tied for first with four home runs.[65]He finished the season with a.242 average in 293 plate appearances.[22]Joyce became a free agent at the conclusion of the season.[66]

Oakland Athletics (2017–2018)

[edit]
Joyce with Oakland in 2017

Joyce signed a two-year, $11 million deal with theOakland Athleticson November 30, 2016.[67]He had an uneven start to the season, batting around.200 until the start of June, at which point he improved to a.250 average and a.429on-base percentage.[68]On June 4, Joyce hit a grand slam againstShawn Kelleyin the ninth inning of a game against theWashington Nationals.Although Joyce's hit helped the Athletics to rally, they were unable to complete the comeback, and lost the game 11–10.[69]Although his offensive performance was strong, Joyce struggled in the outfield; his.973fielding percentagewas the lowest for any Athletics outfielder sinceChris Singletonin 2003, and his sevenerrorswere the most by any Oakland right fielder sinceRuben Sierrain 1994.[1]Most egregiously, on May 28, Joyce committed an error that allowed theNew York Yankeesto load the bases, paving the way for sluggerAaron Judge's first career grand slam.[70]

On August 5, 2017, Joyce received a two-game suspension without pay after using a homophobic slur against a fan in the eighth inning of a game against the Angels.[71]Joyce apologized the following day, and the A's donated $54,000 from Joyce's salary toPFLAG,an organization for families of LGBTQ+ individuals. He additionally clarified in a statement that the outburst had been motivated by a fan saying "vulgar and obscene words" about Joyce and his family, and that he "fully support[s] and hope[s] to help the LGBTQ community with their efforts in being treated fairly."[72]Joyce finished the season with a.243 average with 25 home runs and 68 RBIs in 469 at bats.[22]

Joyce's2018 seasonwith the A's was hampered by a recurrentlumbar strain.He was first placed on the disabled list for the injury on June 6, and returned to the lineup on June 22 after completing a rehab assignment with theNashville Sounds.[73]He returned to the disabled list again on July 7 with the same injury, and said that the pain had been bothering him for most of the season, and no one moment was responsible for this recurrence.[74]His recovery process was repeatedly set back; Joyce did not begin rehab assignments until late August,[75]and he was reactivated on September 1 when MLB rosters expanded.[76]Appearing in only 83 games, Joyce batted.208 for the season, including seven home runs and 15 RBIs.[22]He became a free agent at the conclusion of the season.[77]

Atlanta Braves (2019)

[edit]

Joyce signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indianson February 8, 2019, with an invitation to spring training.[78]He was released from the team in mid-March, and signed another minor-league deal with theSan Francisco Giantson March 20, 2019.[79]On March 23, the Giants traded Joyce to theAtlanta Bravesin exchange for cash considerations.[80]Joyce served primarily as a pinch hitter for the team until August 13, when right fielderNick Markakissuffered a broken wrist. When Markakis returned to the lineup in September, the Braves decided to keep Joyce in right field and shift Markakis to left.[81]Joyce batted.295 for the season in 238 plate appearances, with seven home runs and 23 RBIs.[22]

Miami Marlins (2020)

[edit]

A free agent in the 2019–20 offseason, Joyce signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with theMiami Marlinson February 3, 2020.[82]Joyce contractedCOVID-19shortly before the Marlins' second summer training camp begun, and, although he was cleared for play prior to Opening Day, he was assigned to the team's alternate site to prepare for live pitching. The Marlins were forced to temporarily pause their 2020 season due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the team, and when they returned to play, Joyce had been added to the active roster.[83]Playing in 37 of the 60 games in the pandemic-shortened2020 MLB season,Joyce recorded a.252 average, with 32 hits, 14 RBIs, and two home runs in 127 plate appearances.[22]

On October 2, Joyce threw outWillson Contrerasof theChicago Cubsin the fourth inning of the final game of the2020 National League Wild Card Series.In the seventh inning, Joyce hit a double, and his pinch runnerLewis Brinsonscored off of an RBI single fromMagneuris Sierra.These two plays helped the Marlins win the game 2–0 and advance to the postseason for the first time in 17 years.[84]The Marlins were later swept by the Braves in the2020 National League Division Series(NLDS). Joyce took the final out of the series, aline driveto right field that was caught byCristian Pache.[85]In five postseason games with the Marlins, Joyce recorded two hits and one RBI.[22]Joyce became a free agent after the season.[86]

Philadelphia Phillies (2021)

[edit]

On February 10, 2021, Joyce and Marlins teammateBrandon Kintzlersigned minor-league deals with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[86]Both players were named to the 40-man roster on March 26.[87]On June 1, Joyce hit a grand slam againstCincinnati RedsinfielderAlex Blandino,who had stepped in to pitch, taking the Phillies to a 17–3 lead.[88]Joyce suffered a strained lower back in mid-June, and was placed on the injured list on June 19, withMatt Vierlingcalled up in his place.[89]On July 30, he was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.[90]Joyce wasdesignated for assignmentat the end of September and released into free agency on September 28, the final week of the MLB regular season.[91]He batted just.091 for the year, with two home runs and seven RBIs in 55 at bats.[22]

Retirement and post-playing career

[edit]

After the disruptions caused by the2021–22 MLB lockout,Joyce did not receive any contract offers from MLB teams. He received an invitation to play in anindependent baseball league,which he ultimately rejected, choosing to retire instead.[92]Joyce finished his career with a lifetime.242 batting average in 1,400 games across 14 major league seasons, recording 149 home runs, 898 hits, and 503 RBI in the process.[22]In 2023, Joyce joinedBally Sports Sunas a part-timesports analystfor his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays.[93]

Playing style

[edit]

Beginning in 2016, Joyce operated primarily as apinch hitterrather than a position player. The transition was successful: he led all active MLB pinch hitters with 40 hits and 70 total bases from 2017 through 2020, tying for first with seven home runs.[94]A left-handed batter, most of his plate appearances during this period were against right-handed pitchers, against whom he had an.818on-base plus slugging(OPS) since the 2016 season. As his batting improved over the course of his major league career, Joyce toldMLBthat he would watchYouTubevideos of performances fromBarry Bonds,Ken Griffey Jr.,Jose Bautista,andRobinson Canoto understand what made each player successful behind the plate.[95]While his mechanics were consistently strong throughout his MLB career, Joyce occasionally struggled with timing at the plate. During a decline in his productivity at Anaheim, Scioscia, the manager at the time, encouraged Joyce to think of "a concept like driving the ball up the middle or to left center" rather than focusing on physical mechanics of batting.[96]

Personal life

[edit]

In December 2018, Joyce and his wife, Brittany, alongside business partner Blair Johnson, purchased the rights to fiveF45 Trainingfitness franchises, the first of which opened inNew Tampain May 2020.[97][98]He also works as areal estate investor.[98]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^The Tampa Bay Devil Rays rebranded as the Rays following the 2007 season, at the behest of new shareholderStuart Sternberg.[25]

References

[edit]
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