Matt Joyce is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on August 3, 1984, in Tampa, Florida, and attended Florida Southern College, where he played college baseball.
Joyce was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2008 and played with them for two seasons before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009.
With the Rays, Joyce became a regular outfielder and had his best season in 2011, when he hit .277 with 19 home runs and 75 runs batted in (RBIs). He also made his first and only All-Star appearance that year.
Joyce played with the Rays until 2014, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels. He played with the Angels for two seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016.
In 2017, Joyce signed with the Oakland Athletics, where he played for four seasons. He was primarily used as a designated hitter and outfielder and was known for his ability to hit left-handed pitching.
Joyce's career statistics include a .243 batting average, 145 home runs, and 482 RBIs in 1,301 games played. He also had a .343 on-base percentage and a .432 slugging percentage.
Joyce announced his retirement from baseball in February 2021, ending his 12-year career in the MLB. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he had in the league and thanked his family, teammates, and fans for their support throughout his career.
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