SAN DIEGO -- Angels flamethrowing right-hander Ben Joyce will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair his right shoulder, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Joyce made just five appearances this season, pitching to a 6.23 ERA before landing on the 15-day injured list on April 11 with right shoulder inflammation.
He’s tried to play catch a few times, but never felt right and was ultimately shut down after his most recent attempt on May 9. The Angels then transferred him to the 60-day IL on Saturday.
“We never had surgery on our mind. It just happened,” manager Ron Washington said before the Halos' 5-1 loss to the Padres on Wednesday. “... It’s the same reaction I had when we first lost him. That could’ve been an asset. Now we know we don’t have that asset, at least this year.”
The 24-year-old emerged as a key cog to the back end of the Angels’ bullpen in 2024, posting a 2.08 ERA in 34 2/3 innings. He succeeded on the back of a blazing four-seam fastball, which averaged 102.1 mph -- the fastest average velocity of any fastball last season (min. 50 pitches thrown).
It’s not the first time that shoulder woes have troubled Joyce. His 2024 season came to an end last September due to a bout of shoulder inflammation. He also spent over two months on the IL in 2023 with ulnar neuritis in his throwing elbow. As of Wednesday, Washington was unsure whether Joyce might be available for Spring Training to start next season.
Joyce’s season-ending surgery is another blow to an Angels bullpen that entered Wednesday with a 7.07 ERA, tied with the Nationals for the worst mark in the Majors. Angels relievers have combined for eight blown saves, tied for the third-most of any team.
“Well, we got this far without him, so we’re going to have to figure it out,” Washington said. “Hopefully, the people up top that make the decisions continue to look around and get us some help."
The bullpen looked solid for the most part on Wednesday aside from a two-run eighth inning in which Jose Fermin and Brock Burke walked three batters and gave up a two-run hit with the bases loaded.
“Our bullpen came and did a good job,” Washington said. “Pushed Fermin a little further than I wanted to, but I thought that was a good matchup against [Brandon] Lockridge. He just got a fastball down the middle and he didn’t miss it.”
Fermin, Burke and Reid Detmers combined for two unearned runs allowed on two hits, four walks, four strikeouts and an error over two innings.
And while the Angels could look to acquire some more bullpen arms, some of the help that Washington alluded to might already be in the building.
"I know we’re supposed to get [Robert] Stephenson back at some point this year, but it’d be nice if they can find us some more help," Washington said.
Stephenson, who has been out since undergoing Tommy John surgery with a brace inserted in his right elbow on May 1, 2024, isn’t expected to make his return until June or July. He made his first rehab appearance with Single-A Inland Empire on Tuesday night, where he pitched one inning and allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout.
Another right-handed option already on the Angels roster who could potentially slot into Joyce’s setup role is Héctor Neris. The 35-year-old signed a Minor League deal with the Halos on April 16 after being DFA’ed by the Braves at the end of March and was called up on May 6.
In four relief appearances over 2 1/3 innings pitched with the Angels, Neris has yet to allow a run or a hit with five strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.43, though he’s mainly been used as a specialist against lefty batters.
“I think Neris is doing well with what he’s doing, handling those left-handers,” Washington said. “If you notice when we bring him in, it’s left-handers he’s facing, and he’s doing a good job of that. He’s been in big situations before, but right now we’ll just play it by ear, where we are in the lineup, and where we feel he fit best.”