Flamethrowing righty Joyce to begin rehab assignment

CHICAGO -- The Angels’ struggling bullpen should get a much-needed boost soon, as flamethrowing right-hander Ben Joyce was assigned to start a rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.

Joyce, who is recovering from shoulder surgery last May, had been throwing bullpens since mid-February and faced hitters three times in Arizona, including in an extended Spring Training game on Monday. It’s a big step for Joyce but he’ll need to make several rehab outings before he’s activated to join the bullpen.

“It’s awesome,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “When they told me that, I was pretty excited, and hearing what he’s been doing in Arizona, this guy’s ready to go out. So I’m excited to see what he’s got and pitching in a rehab assignment game and then go from there.”

Joyce, 25, has a career 3.12 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 24 walks in 49 innings, including a 2.08 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 34 2/3 frames in '24. Last year, he allowed three runs over just 4 1/3 innings before he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.

But Joyce has absolutely electric stuff, as his fastball has reached as high as 105.5 mph, and he pairs it with a power sinker he’s called a “splinker,” as well as an 86-mph slider and 92-mph changeup.

Suzuki said there’s no exact timetable for Joyce’s return, as it will depend on how he feels. He’s also likely to see action with Triple-A Salt Lake before he joins a bullpen that needs plenty of help. Entering Wednesday's series finale against the White Sox, Angels relievers have combined to post a 5.71 ERA that ranks as the second-worst mark in the Majors.

“That’s up to him,” Suzuki said. “Just seeing how he does, how he recovers and all those types of things. We obviously don’t want to rush him, but at the same time if he’s feeling good throwing the ball well, I mean who knows? With him he’s a freak of nature, you never know.”