If you ever find yourself at-bat against Tennessee Volunteers pitcher Ben Joyce, choke up on the bat. Based on a pitch he threw on Sunday, there’s a decent chance he might throw a ball more than 105 MPH.
In a game against the Auburn Tigers, Joyce threw the fastest pitch of the college baseball season (and history) when he chucked one at 105.5 MPH.
Ben Joyce's 105.5 MPH Fastball. pic.twitter.com/4a2R8iMw1A
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2022
For perspective, the fastest recorded pitch in Major League Baseball history was 105.8 MPH by Aroldis Chapman in 2010.
Absolute filth from Ben Joyce. According to our YakkerTrack data, Ben Joyce threw a pitch 105.5 mph in that inning. 🤯
📺 https://t.co/WMXSwVCK1W#GBO // #OTH // #BeatAuburn pic.twitter.com/AzBeGEbkB1
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 1, 2022
And it wasn’t just that one fastball. Joyce threw a whole bunch of extremely fast pitches on Sunday. In fact, of the 33 fastballs he threw, 28 of them were 103 MPH or faster.
***Adjusted official numbers.***
Today #Vols’ Ben Joyce threw…
– 3 pitches at 105 mph or better
– 15 pitches at 104 mph or better
– 28 pitches at 103 mph or better
Of his 33 fastballs, 28 were 103-plus
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) May 1, 2022
That is insane.
The big question now is whether or not Joyce has a 106 MPH in his arsenal and, if so, just how fast can he ultimately throw? The redshirt junior still has plenty of time to make it happen before he assuredly gets a shot at the big leagues.
🔥 @benjoyce08 brought the heat today…hitting 105 on the radar! 🔥#NCAABaseball x 🎥 @Vol_Baseball pic.twitter.com/Di5g02yo3z
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 1, 2022
It’s also worth noting that the Vols won 5-3 and are lined up to be ranked No. 1 in the nation when next week’s polls come out.
In the meantime, the clip of Joyce throwing a 105.5 MPH fastball went viral on Twitter and garnered a lot of big reactions from around the baseball world.
A 105.5 fastball is insane! 🤯 https://t.co/rdGRbwUji2
— Jeremiah Martinez (@TheJerryMartin) May 1, 2022
Even with rounding (so 102.5 = 103), no MLB pitcher on record has thrown more than 15 pitches at 103+ MPH in a game.@wesrucker247 reports that Ben Joyce threw TWENTY EIGHT pitches at 103+ MPH today. 🤯 https://t.co/VfJpky7Mrr
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 1, 2022
This has to be pushing the limits of what's humanly possible. https://t.co/AXv2VqXlpj
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 2, 2022
If you're wondering if he can "throw strikes"…
2.57 BB/9, 6.33 K/BB & a 0.71 WHIP this year. https://t.co/DxX97K3j82— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2022
The audible “whoaaaa” lmao https://t.co/dSXoPn5n8D
— yc (@yc) May 1, 2022
