Matt

Joyce

Joyce played 14 seasons in the majors with eight different teams including the Tigers, Rays, Angels, Pirates, Athletics, Braves, Marlins and Phillies. He made one All-Star Game appearance back in 2011. The 38-year-old outfielder played in 43 games last year with the Phillies. He finishes with a solid .242/.342/.425 triple-slash line with 149 home runs and 35 steals in 1,400 career games.

Joyce officially hits the open market after being designated for assignment over the weekend. The veteran outfielder was limited to just 43 games this season due to a back injury and hit just .091 (5-for-44) when he was on the field.

Philadelphia recalled right-hander Hans Crouse on Sunday to make his major league debut and Joyce was the odd man out with roster Tetris. The veteran outfielder missed a good chunk of the year with a back injury and was just 5-for-44 (.091) with two home runs this season.

Joyce is back for the Phillies after missing nearly three months due to a lower back strain. He’ll slot back in as a pinch-hitting specialist over the remaining three weeks of the regular season.

Nothing has changed in the recovery timeline for Joyce, who is still attempting to work his way back from a lower back strain. This was merely done as a procedural move to free up a spot on the club’s 40-man roster.

Joyce has played sparingly for the Phillies and hasn’t started a game since May 27. It’s unclear exactly how long he’ll be sidelined.

Joyce came off the bench after Roman Quinn sustained an Achilles injury early in the contest and wound up snapping an 0-for-28 steak with a game-tying solo shot to right field off lefty Jeffrey Springs in the seventh inning.

The 36-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since the first week of May due to a calf injury. He’s taking the roster spot of the injured J.T. Realmuto who was officially placed on the injured list on Friday. Joyce has struggled in his limited action this season, hitting just .100/.289/.133 with a 6/7 K/BB ratio in 38 plate appearances.

Joyce presumably suffered the injury after coming off the bench on Tuesday night against the Brewers. Or perhaps it’s been a lingering thing. He leaves behind a rough .100/.289/.133 batting line.

Harper is presumably (and understandably) still sore after being hit in the face by a 97-mph fastball on Wednesday, so he’ll sit out a second straight game. At last check, he had not displayed any concussion symptoms. Matt Joyce is in right field Friday.