Ben Joyce throws 105.5 mph fastball for Tennessee baseball vs. Auburn

Ben Joyce threw 53 pitches against Auburn on Sunday. One stood out above the rest.

The Tennessee baseball pitcher threw a 105.5 mph fastball on the first pitch of Cole Foster's seventh-inning at-bat. That pitch would register as the second-fastest pitch in Major League Baseball history, according to UT. Aroldis Chapman threw 105.8 mph pitch for the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 24, 2010.

Joyce threw 28 of 33 fastballs faster than 103 mph. He threw 15 of at least 104 mph and three of 105 mph or more.

“You could see he had a little extra emotion boiling out because he wanted to be out there, and that’s the right way to handle it," Vols coach Tony Vitello said. "You certainly have to have passion and emotion but you gotta control it and that guy had — whatever all the levels are on those things I just said — he had them all turned up all the way but yet had them under control.”

The Farragut product has drawn national attention throughout the season for his fastball, including when he hit 103.5 mph against UNC Asheville on Feb. 23.

"I am in the outfield just in awe," outfielder Jordan Beck said. "He is sitting up there throwing 103 on the normal. I don’t know how many people on the planet can do that and I am glad he is on our team and I am not facing him.”

Joyce picked up the win Sunday in UT's 5-3 victory against Auburn. He struck out six in a season-long four innings and allowed one hit, a seventh-inning single. He came in during the sixth with two runners on and nobody out, but escaped without allowing a run by getting a double-play ball and a groundout.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Joyce has struck out 38 in 21 innings in 19 appearances. Opponents are hitting .125 against Joyce.

"He could be a starter," Vitello said. "If you are talking about the draft or anything down the road, I wouldn’t put it past him. You have to have a two- or three-pitch mix and throw strikes. He does that. You have to have stuff to go through the order a couple times. He obviously has that."

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ben Joyce throws 105.5 mph fastball for Tennessee baseball vs. Auburn