Patch Talk: Rays Matt Joyce on Growing up in Brandon Area

If you follow the Tampa Bay Rays you might know right fielder Matt Joyce grew up in Greater Brandon and graduated from Armwood High School in 2002. But there are plenty of other factoids about Joyce you might not know, like what type of books he reads and his favorite high school teacher.

A growing fan favorite, Joyce answered these and other questions prior to opening day, April 1, in an interview that highlighted his strong sense of his hometown roots.

Joyce grew up off Wheeler Road and Kingsway Avenue with a passion for  his sport taking root on the North Brandon Little League fields. When asked to write in a book in kindergarten at Colson Elementary what he wanted to do when he grew up, he noted he wanted to become a major league baseball player.

He attended Burnett Middle School and then played for Joey Fernandez at Armwood, where Joyce earned a scholarship to Florida Southern College in Lakeland. There, he played for the Division II national champions in 2005. Joyce was drafted in the 12th round by the Detroit Tigers, making the big leagues at age 23 in 2008. He was traded to the Rays in December of 2008 for pitcher Edwin Jackson.

Below are some facts about Joyce followed by the Brandon Patch interview.

THE INTERVIEW

Brandon Patch: Did you win many individual honors in high school?

• Joyce: I wasn’t too ridiculous as far as being that far above everybody. I think I made All-Conference, but I just tried to keep working hard [to] get better.

Brandon Patch: When did they retire your Armwood jersey?

• Joyce: In 2008. That was really cool. You go back to your stomping grounds and they honor you like that, it was a great feeling, very flattering. I want to go back there next offseason.

Brandon Patch: Where do you live now?

• Joyce: In Tampa.

Brandon Patch: What went through your mind when you heard about the trade and realized you were coming home to play here?

• Joyce: My first thought was mixed emotions. When you get traded you feel like that team doesn’t want you. You think to yourself, “What’s wrong?” Or, “What did I do?" But when I heard that I was going to Tampa it was the opposite feeling of, "That’s awesome! I get to play in my hometown in front of my friends and family."

Brandon Patch: What are the negatives or distractions playing in your hometown? People bug you for tickets?

• Joyce: You get that a lot. You just have to find a way to manage it. You have to learn how to say no, which is hard for me to do because I like to be an easygoing guy and make everybody happy. But you can’t always do that and you have to focus on getting ready for the game and [for] your job.

Brandon Patch: Were you a Rays fan growing up?

• Joyce: Definitely. It was tough to be a Rays fan back then, but when we got a new team and you’re a young kid growing up in that city playing baseball that’s your team. We went to a lot of games. I remember seeing Wade Boggs get his 3,000 hit [in 1999]. It was a home run. Watching "Crime Dog” [Fred McGriff], Jose Canseco, those guys were legends and it was cool to watch them. I remember being little, and I was in my seat eating Dippin’ Dots, and my dad pointing to the field saying that could be you one day. I’m like, “Okay, dad." But sure enough, it turned out.

Brandon Patch: Favorite Ray?

• Joyce: Fred McGriff. I liked Crime Dog a lot. He was a lefty like me and had that helicopter finish [with his swing finishing way above his head]. He seemed like a really nice guy. And the cool thing was I got to meet him last year and talk to him a little bit and he’s the nicest guy you can meet.  

Brandon Patch: Favorite player?

• Joyce: I was a big Ken Griffey Jr. fan. He was an unbelievable player. He could do it all. I had his posters all over my wall.

Brandon Patch: Is there a special section at Tropicana Field where all the Armwood or Brandon area alums hang out?

• Joyce: There’s not a specific section. But I’ve been fortunate to have a bunch of people come out and support me all around the stadium. They seem to be migrating to right field because I play there. So they’re behind me when I’m playing and they make themselves known during a game. It’s a surreal feeling. Sometimes you get caught up with the feelings of gratitude and appreciation and being thankful for the opportunity. But then you have to concentrate on what you have to do.

Brandon Patch: When did you first think about being a major league player?

• Joyce: Not until I was called up. The minor leagues are a grind, and to get here is one last step, but a big step. That’s why you have to be thankful for every day you’re here because you never know when it will be your last day.

Brandon Patch: You’ve said being sent down to the minors for most of 2009 was a huge disappointment. But on the flip side it had to be a kick contributing to the team winning the American League East title last year. When you were recalled last June you had some key hits, including a grand slam, to jumpstart the team in July. (At the time of Joyce’s promotion in late June, the Rays had lost 17 of their previous 30 games, and a five-game lead in the AL East had turned into a two-game deficit. After he arrived the team went 21-9. He hit three key homers that month, including a three-run blast to win a memorable game against the Yankees.)

• Joyce: It was definitely a sense of relief and a great feeling to be back in the big leagues. Then to deliver like that it was memorable, magic, you can use a million words and they all apply. Stuff you dream about as a little kid.   

Brandon Patch: Favorite childhood hangout growing up around Brandon and Seffner? 

• Joyce: Besides the baseball field? It was hard to find me any place else. Once you start to drive you go over a friend’s house or to the movies.

Brandon Patch: Favorite high school teacher?

• Joyce: Ms. [Denise] Silver. She taught anatomy. She was great. She was easygoing and she made you laugh and have fun in the class and it made learning that much more enjoyable.

Brandon Patch: Favorite way to relax?

• Joyce: Anywhere with some water and just chilling out at the beach or sitting by the pool where you have no stresses and can relax.  

Brandon Patch: Hobbies?

• Joyce: Video games, and I love to play golf. I like to play a lot of sports, anything that’s competition.

Brandon Patch: Biggest influences in your life?

• Joyce: Family was huge for me. They all pushed me and encouraged me and led me in the right direction. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Brandon Patch: Book on your nightstand?

• Joyce: I love financial books. I think being financially intelligent is huge, and knowing what to do with your money and how to invest it. If I wasn’t playing baseball I’d probably be doing something in business and finance. That’s the thing that’s scary. We are very fortunate to make the money we do, but going along with that is how long it’s going to last, and you have to choose wisely how to spend it to make it last.       

Brandon Patch: Do you have any individual goals for this season?

• Joyce: The numbers take care of themselves. You can’t get caught up in the expectations because it’s a game. You can control how good your at-bats are, the pitches you swing at, how hard you work and your preparation. But the numbers will come if you get your chances.

Brandon Patch: Team outlook for this season?

• Joyce: This team is going to have a lot of fun. We’re going to be really good and surprise a lot of people. Adding Manny [Ramirez] and [Johnny] Damon made a bigger difference than I thought. Watching them around camp, they make the game a lot of fun. They’re veterans, they know how to go about their business. They play hard and they add great veteran leadership to this young team that has a lot of talent.