Matt Joyce

Matthew Ryan Joyce
(DJ SS or Sweet Swingin')

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 194 lb.
• School Florida Southern College
• High School Armwood High School
• Debut May 5, 2008
• Final Game September 23, 2021
• Born August 3, 1984 in Tampa, FL, USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Matt Joyce was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round of the 2005 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Steve Nichols and made his pro debut that summer. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for P Edwin Jackson after making his major league debut with the Tigers early in the 2008 season. He hit .252/.339/.492 with 12 homers and 16 doubles in 92 games as a rookie with Detroit, but then spent almost the entire 2009 season in the minors, only playing 11 games for the Rays, during which he hit only .188/.270/.500. He was a part-time player for Tampa Bay in 2010, hitting .241/.360/.477 in 77 games, then emerged as one of the team's stars in 2011 when he started the season on a tear, being named to the 2011 All-Star Game as a result. He cooled down later in the year, but still managed to hit .277/.347/.478 in 141 games, with 32 doubles, 19 homers and 75 RBI as the Rays' regular right fielder. He went 3 for 15 with a double and a homer when the Rays lost to the Texas Rangers in the ALDS, having gone 2 for 9 with no extra-base hits in a loss to the same Rangers in the 2010 ALDS.

Joyce was the hero of the Rays' first win of the 2013 season on April 3rd, hitting a walk-off homer against Tommy Hunter of the Baltimore Orioles to lead-off the 9th inning after Fernando Rodney had recorded a rare blown save in the top of the 9th. On April 25, 2014, he set a team record by drawing five walks in a game against the Chicago White Sox. On June 29th, he became only the 5th player in Rays history to have a five-hit game when he went 5-for-6 with two homers, a double and 4 RBI in a 12-7 win over the Orioles. His 12 total bases also matched a team record.

On December 16, 2014 Joyce was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Kevin Jepsen.

In 2016, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Joyce set a record by drawing 21 walks as a pinch-hitter.

On August 5, 2017, playing for the Oakland Athletics, he was suspended for two games by Major League Baseball for addressing a homophobic slur at a fan the night before.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (2011)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (2017)

Related Sites

• Matt Joyce on mlb.com