Los Angeles Angels select Zach Joyce in 14th round of MLB Draft

A year after taking Tennessee flamethrowing right-handed pitcher Ben Joyce early in day two, the organization drafts his brother Zach with the 414th overall selection in the 14th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft.

Zach Joyce’s path to the mound in 2023 was a highly-anticipated one. He signed with Tennessee prior to the 2021 season following two successful years at Walter’s State Community College, but instead stepped away from the game. He was enrolled at the university in 2022, but did not play. He made his long-awaited Tennessee debut on the opening weekend of the season against UC San Diego, where he struck out the two batters he faced.

14 (414): @Angels select Tennessee (TN) P Zach Joyce https://t.co/CwW4vtk6yk #MLBDraft

— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) July 11, 2023

Joyce went on to total 13 appearances for the Vols in 2023, going 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA. The right-handed pitcher tossed 10.1 innings on the mound, logging 17 strikeouts with two walks. He suffered an injury midway through the season that kept him out of action until the final midweek game of the regular-season.

Joyce now reunites with his twin brother Ben who made his Major League Baseball debut earlier this year for the Angels. Ben is four minutes older.

The pitcher joins teammate Chase Dollander, Maui Ahuna, Andrew Lindsey and Seth Halvorsen, Jared Dickey and Ryan Galanie (portal commit) as Vols drafted thus far into the 2023 MLB Draft.

Tennessee #Vols right-handed pitcher Zach Joyce is drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 14th Round.

He reunites with his twin brother, Ben Joyce. https://t.co/ZSgJCWhZAr

— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) July 11, 2023

Vols in the 2023 MLB Draft

RHP Chase Dollander – Rockies – Round 1, 9th overall
3B Carson Rucker (commit) – Tigers – Round 4, 107th overall
SS Maui Ahuna – Giants – Round 4, 117th overall
RHP Andrew Lindsey – Marlins- Round 5, 146th overall pick
RHP Seth Halvorsen – Rockies – Round 7, 202nd overall pick
OF/C Jared Dickey – Royals – Round 11, 319th overall pick
INF Ryan Galanie (transfer portal commit) – White Sox – Round 13, 389th overall pick
RHP Zach Joyce – Angels – Round 14, 414th overall pick

MLB Draft Vols in the Tony Vitello Era

Entering this year’s draft, there had been 28 players drafted by Major League Baseball organizations during the Tony Vitello tenure, one that started in the spring of 2018. Tennessee had a program-record 10 players drafted in 2022 with two first rounders, Drew Gilbert (Astros, pick 28) and Jordan Beck (Rockies, pick 38 in Competitive Balance Round A). Two Tennessee players who have been drafted under Vitello are currently in the Major Leagues – Ben Joyce (2022), Garrett Crochet (2020).

Overall, the Volunteers have boasted 183 draft picks all-time with 55 players reaching the show. Prior to Chase Dollander (2023), the Vols had sported 20 total first round selections.

Vitello is coming off his second College World Series appearance in the past three seasons as head coach of the Volunteers. Tennessee broke a 22-year Omaha winless streak with its 6-4 victory over Stanford on June 19, a win that snapped a six-game losing streak on the stage. The Vols capped the 2022 campaign with a 44-22 record and Tennessee is the only team in college baseball to average 50 wins over the past three seasons.

Here’s a list of players who have been drafted after being coached by Tony Vitello at Tennessee (entering the 2023 draft).

2022 – Drew Gilbert – Round 1, Astros
2022 – Jordan Beck – Round 1, Rockies
2022 – Blade Tidwell – Round 2, Mets
2022 – Trey Lipscomb – Round 3, Nationals      
2022 – Ben Joyce – Round 3, Angels
2022 – Will Mabrey – Round 6, Diamondbacks
2022 – Jorel Ortega – Round 6, Twins
2022 – Seth Stephenson – Round 7, Tigers
2022 – Mark McLaughlin – Round 7, White Sox
2022 – Cortland Lawson – Round 14, Nationals
2021 – Chad Dallas – Round 4, Blue Jays
2021 – Liam Spence – Round 5, Cubs
2021 – Max Ferguson – Round 5, Padres
2021 – Connor Pavolony – Round 7, Orioles
2021 – Jake Rucker – Round 7, Twins
2021 – Jackson Leath – Round 12, Rangers
2021 – Sean Hunley – Round 19, Rays
2020 – Garrett Crochet – Round 1, White Sox
2020 – Alerick Soularie – Round 2, Twins
2020 – Zach Daniels – Round 4, Astros
2019 – Andre Lipcius – Round 3, Tigers
2019 – Garrett Stallings – Round 5, Angels
2019 – Andrew Schultz – Round 6, Phillies
2019 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 9, Angels
2019 – Ricky Martinez – Round 18, Diamondbacks
2019 – Jay Charleston – Round 26, Royals
2018 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 19, Nationals
2018 – Benito Santiago – Round 34, Cardinals