The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed outfielder Matt Joyce to a minor league contract, which includes an invitation to Major League spring training camp. The announcement was made by Pirates Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
Joyce spent the 2015 season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, where he hit .174 (43-for-247) with 12 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 21 RBI in 93 games.
In six seasons with Tampa Bay from 2009-2014, the left-haded hitting Joyce batted .250 with 111 doubles, 10 triples, 76 home runs and 280 RBI in 633 games. He was named to the American League All-Star team in 2011 after hitting .290 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 41 RBI prior to the break.
Joyce began his big league career with the Tigers in 2008 after being selected by Detroit in the 12th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. In 818 career games in the Major Leagues, he has produced a .242 (589-for-2429) batting average, 139 doubles, 93 home runs and 334 RBI.
There are now 63 players in big league camp with the Pirates.