ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels rookie relief pitcher Ben Joyce threw a 105.5 mph fastball on Tuesday night, the fastest in the major leagues this season and the third-fastest in the pitch-tracking era since 2008.
Joyce's blazing fastball struck out Tommy Edman to end the top of the ninth inning for the Los Angeles Dodgers with the fastest strikeout pitch in the pitch-tracking era.
Joyce, a fastball pitcher, once threw a ball at 105.5 mph while at Tennessee, but his fastest fastball in the major leagues was 104.5 mph.
Aroldis Chapman threw a 105.8 mph fastball in September 2010 and a 105.7 mph fastball in July 2016.
According to Statcast, Chapman and Jordan Hicks were the only two pitchers to ever throw 105 mph in a major league game in the pitch-tracking era before Joyce joined the team.
Joyce said he got a little extra encouragement from the sellout, bipartisan crowd that watched the Angels lose 6-2 to the Dodgers.
He also threw fastballs at 104.4, 104.0, 103.6 and 103.0 mph in the ninth inning, three of which were thrown to Will Smith, who struck out on four pitches.
“It was just a big game,” Joyce said. “There were a lot of fans going crazy, so I think that helped a little bit. … You could feel it the whole time. The stadium was just shaking. It was definitely a cool atmosphere.”
Joyce's strong 1-2-3 ninth inning kept the game tied at 2-2, but the Dodgers rallied back against reliever Roansy Contreras in the 10th to secure the win.
“I had two strikes, so I just went all out,” Joyce said of the 105.5 mph pitch. “It didn't really feel that different (compared to his other fastballs). To be honest, I thought I threw it faster, so I was kind of surprised to see the number (on the scoreboard).”
Joyce smiled internally as he saw the speed displayed on the scoreboard as he left the mound.
“Oh man, tough,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Luckily he was 90 feet away from the plate. That was nasty.”
Only three pitchers in that era — Chapman, Hicks and Joan Duran — have recorded pitches faster than 104.5 mph, but they are joined this season by Joyce, who pitched 10 innings for the Angels in 2023.
He had an excellent second major league season, appearing in 31 games with a 2.08 ERA.
And even after his latest triple-digit run, Joyce believes there's even more speed to come.
“I wish I could throw it a little harder,” Joyce said with a smile.
