Knoxville native, born and raised, junior pitcher Zach Joyce embodies what it means to be a “Vol For Life.” Being around the orange and white checkerboards since he was a kid, it wasn’t until the 2023 season that Joyce was finally able to represent the Vols on the diamond– a goal that was always in his sights. However, it was an unconventional path that brought him to his current position as a high-velocity relief pitcher for Tennessee.
After graduating from Farragut High School in 2019, Joyce attended Walters State Community College after not receiving many college offers out of high school. Joyce was joined by his older, (by four minutes) twin brother Ben Joyce. There, the brothers spent two years honing their skills in red, white and blue.
As a freshman, Zach helped lead the Senators to the 2019 NJCAA D-I Junior College World Series, making 13 relief appearances, totaling 24 strikeouts while posting a 1.15 ERA. In 2020, during the COVID-shortened season, Joyce was unable to compete after undergoing Tommy John surgery in January before ultimately signing to play at the University of Tennessee for the 2021 season.
However, rehabilitation from the injury and the procedure proved to take more than just a physical toll. The complexity of his injury, and the struggle in coming back from it, came with an equally grueling amount of mental strain. Joyce ultimately decided to step away from the game in 2021– never donning orange and white that season or the next, but continuing on as a student on Rocky Top.
That was until June 17, 2022, at the end of Tennessee baseball’s postseason run and after watching his brother Ben thrive for the Vols, when Joyce announced that he would be returning to the mound, sharing his decision with Vol Nation.
On Oct. 10, 2022 –World Mental Health Day– Joyce posted a message on social media with the caption, “I hope this will help someone that needs it. Always reach out if you need help, it can change your life.”
Joyce shared his story and journey in dealing with clinical depression and anxiety, what led him to take time away from baseball and ultimately what emboldened him in his decision to return to the diamond.
“These days still happen, but progress always starts with a single step,” Joyce wrote. “The biggest lesson I learned in that time is that I was not alone, and there are so many people going through the same thing… There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter…
After graduating from Farragut High School in 2019, Joyce attended Walters State Community College after not receiving many college offers out of high school. Joyce was joined by his older, (by four minutes) twin brother Ben Joyce. There, the brothers spent two years honing their skills in red, white and blue.
As a freshman, Zach helped lead the Senators to the 2019 NJCAA D-I Junior College World Series, making 13 relief appearances, totaling 24 strikeouts while posting a 1.15 ERA. In 2020, during the COVID-shortened season, Joyce was unable to compete after undergoing Tommy John surgery in January before ultimately signing to play at the University of Tennessee for the 2021 season.
However, rehabilitation from the injury and the procedure proved to take more than just a physical toll. The complexity of his injury, and the struggle in coming back from it, came with an equally grueling amount of mental strain. Joyce ultimately decided to step away from the game in 2021– never donning orange and white that season or the next, but continuing on as a student on Rocky Top.
That was until June 17, 2022, at the end of Tennessee baseball’s postseason run and after watching his brother Ben thrive for the Vols, when Joyce announced that he would be returning to the mound, sharing his decision with Vol Nation.
On Oct. 10, 2022 –World Mental Health Day– Joyce posted a message on social media with the caption, “I hope this will help someone that needs it. Always reach out if you need help, it can change your life.”
Joyce shared his story and journey in dealing with clinical depression and anxiety, what led him to take time away from baseball and ultimately what emboldened him in his decision to return to the diamond.
“These days still happen, but progress always starts with a single step,” Joyce wrote. “The biggest lesson I learned in that time is that I was not alone, and there are so many people going through the same thing… There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter…
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