Spring training started Feb. 24 ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball season.
Two former Vols have been named as standout prospects during spring training by MLB.com.
Andre Lipcius was named as a standout prospect for the Tigers.
The former Vol was a third-round draft pick by Detroit in the 2019 MLB draft. Lipcius played shortstop and third base at Tennessee from 2017-19.
Ben Joyce was named as a standout prospect for the Angels.
Joyce was selected by the Angels in the third round (No. 89 overall) of the 2022 MLB draft.
He appeared in 27 games and started one contest in 2022 for the Vols. Joyce (2-1) totaled 53 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched during the 2022 campaign.
2022 Tennessee baseball: Ben Joyce by the numbers
The former third-round Draft pick and nuclear engineering major at Tennessee caught the organization’s attention with his plate discipline and extra-base power between Double-A Eerie and Triple-A Toledo. Those qualities have carried over to his first Major League camp, where he has put up tough at-bats while also showing some opportunistic power. He won’t make the Opening Day roster, barring something crazy. But with third base in flux, he could put himself in position to get an in-season call if the Tigers need help. — Jason Beck on Lipcius
Joyce first turned heads in college when he threw a 105.5 mph fastball with the University of Tennessee. He fared well at Double-A last season after the Angels took him in the third round of the 2022 Draft. Joyce, 22, has impressed in his first taste of Major League camp, showcasing his elite velocity as well as his two sliders. He’s thrown two scoreless innings and the Angels had him face the heart of the Royals’ order on Thursday to see what he could do against Major League hitters. Joyce has a chance to make the bullpen but the Angels could have him work on his control in the Minors before calling him up later this season. — Rhett Bollinger on Joyce
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