Ben Joyce throws 105.5 mph fastball for Tennessee baseball vs. Auburn

Ben Joyce threw 53 pitches in opposition to Auburn on Sunday. One stood out above the remainder.

The Tennessee baseball pitcher threw a 105.5 mph fastball on the primary pitch of Cole Foster’s seventh-inning at-bat. That pitch would register because the second-fastest pitch in Main League Baseball historical past, based on UT. Aroldis Chapman threw 105.8 mph pitch for the Cincinnati Reds in opposition to the San Diego Padres on Sept. 24, 2010.

Joyce threw 28 of 33 fastballs sooner than 103 mph. He threw 15 of not less than 104 mph and three of 105 mph or extra.

“You may see he had a bit of further emotion boiling out as a result of he wished to be on the market, and that’s the precise strategy to deal with it,” Vols coach Tony Vitello mentioned. “You definitely need to have ardour and emotion however you gotta management it and that man had — no matter all the degrees are on these issues I simply mentioned — he had all of them turned up all the best way however but had them underneath management.”

The Farragut product has drawn nationwide consideration all through the season for his fastball, together with when he hit 103.5 mph in opposition to UNC Asheville on Feb. 23.

“I’m within the outfield simply in awe,” outfielder Jordan Beck mentioned. “He’s sitting up there throwing 103 on the traditional. I don’t understand how many individuals on the planet can do this and I’m glad he’s on our staff and I’m not going through him.”

Joyce picked up the win Sunday in UT’s 5-3 victory in opposition to Auburn. He struck out six in a season-long 4 innings and allowed one hit, a seventh-inning single. He got here in throughout the sixth with two runners on and no one out, however escaped with out permitting a run by getting a double-play ball and a groundout.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Joyce has struck out 38 in 21 innings in 19 appearances. Opponents are hitting .125 in opposition to Joyce.

“He might be a starter,” Vitello mentioned. “If you’re speaking in regards to the draft or something down the street, I wouldn’t put it previous him. It’s important to have a two- or three-pitch combine and throw strikes. He does that. It’s important to have stuff to undergo the order a pair occasions. He clearly has that.”

Mike Wilson covers College of Tennessee athletics. E mail him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and comply with him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. In case you get pleasure from Mike’s protection, contemplate a digital subscription that can permit you entry to all of it.