Angels pick Tennessee’s Zach Joyce – twin brother of Ben – on final day of draft
The Angels are on their way to reuniting the Joyce twins.
The Angels picked right-hander Zach Joyce in the 14th round of the MLB draft on Tuesday, a year after they took his twin brother, Ben, who has already rocketed to the majors.
Angels scouting director Tim McIlvaine, who selected Ben as part of his first draft class with the Angels, said he would have wanted Zach, regardless of the connection. Both pitched at the University of Tennessee.
“The story of it being Ben’s brother is great,” McIlvaine said, “but this was a guy that, regardless of any connections to the Angels, I was targeting as a guy that could that could help us.”
Zach, 22, was behind his brother in development because he took a season off from baseball to deal with anxiety and depression, issues that hit him as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery in 2020. He had also battled other injuries in recent years.
“It’s great to see after taking a little bit of time off, he’s got the injuries behind,” McIlvaine said. “He’s got the personal stuff behind him. It’s full throttle ahead now. We are really excited to have him.”
Zach pitched at Tennessee this season, throwing just 10⅓ innings. His fastball is 95-98 mph, McIlvaine said. Ben famously threw as hard as 105 mph at Tennessee, and in his quick ascent to the major leagues he’s already touched 103 mph. Ben is currently on the injured list with ulnar neuritis, rehabbing in Arizona.
Zach is expected to be in Arizona with the other Angels draft picks for a minicamp beginning July 17.
McIlvaine suggested the Angels are not expecting issues signing any of their 19 picks, including 10 more on the final day.
All told, they ended up with nine pitchers and 10 position players. Logan Britt, the Angels’ 17th-round pick, was an outfielder at Abilene Christian in Texas, but the Angels drafted him as a pitcher.
Shortstop John Wimmer, of Rock Hill High in South Carolina, is expected to sign for more than the $125,000 allotted for picks beyond the 10th round, so the Angels can lure him away from a scholarship to the Citadel.
The Angels’ ninth- and 10th-round picks are expected to sign for minimal bonuses because they have no leverage to return to school. That gives them space to go over-slot for Wimmer and eighth-round pick Barrett Kent, a high school pitcher from Texas.