A reliever with a 0.86 ERA who has struck out 38 batters in 19 appearances out of the bullpen for the Volunteers, Tennessee righthander Ben Joyce has a cannon for an arm. During a 5-3 win for the top-ranked Volunteers over Auburn on Sunday, the junior hurler fired the second-fastest shot in baseball history.
Facing Cole Foster in the top of the eighth in Sunday’s win, Joyce registered a fastball of 105.5 mph, believed to be the fastest pitch thrown in college baseball history. That speed makes Joyce’s fireball the second-fastest recorded pitch in baseball history, just 0.3 mph behind MLB pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who threw a 105.8 mph pitch as a Cincinnati Red against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 24, 2010.
Joyce tossed a career-long four innings in relief and struck out six and while only allowing one hit to record his second victory of the season and Tennessee’s 40th overall. “Any time you get to pitch on this team with these guys and knowing they trust me to go back out there really gives me a lot of confidence,” Joyce said after the win.
During his scoreless outing, Joyce threw 28 pitches that were clocked at 103 mph or faster. Of those 28 pitches, 15 were 104 mph or faster and three were 105 mph or faster, according to Tennessee’s Yakker Tech data tracking system. “I ain’t the smartest fella, but I ain’t taking that guy out of the game nor are any of the other coaches,” said Vols coach Tony Vitello.
Smart man.
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