Angels’ Ben Joyce Smashes Record with 105.5 mph Fastball, the Fastest Ever by a Right-Hander

Los Angeles Angels’ rookie reliever Ben Joyce made history with a blistering fastball that hit 105.5 mph (169.8 km/h) during the Wednesday game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium. This pitch is now the fastest ever recorded by a right-handed pitcher since MLB began tracking speeds in 2008.

Joyce took the mound in the ninth inning, delivering a scoreless performance with two strikeouts and securing his team’s victory. On his third pitch, he used his signature fastball to overpower Tommy Edman, then flashed a grin as he checked the scoreboard.

MLB.com reported that “Joyce’s pitch is the fastest recorded since left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman threw at 105.8 mph (about 170.3 km/h) in 2010 and 105.7 mph (about 170.1 km/h) in 2016.”

Notably, Joyce’s pitch stands as the fastest ever for a strikeout. Since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft and joining the Angels, Joyce has quickly overcome control issues and established himself as one of the league’s top bullpen pitchers.

This season, Joyce boasts a record of two wins, no losses, four saves, and a 2.08 ERA over 31 games. In his post-game interview, he remained confident about his future, saying, “I’d like to think I can throw a little harder.”