Joe Boyle Makes MLB Debut, Earns Another Look

The A's acquired Joe Boyle from the Cincinnati Reds at the Trade Deadline, and in just a couple of months he has progressed to the big leagues

The 2023 season has been a year of opportunity in Oakland. Zack Gelof, Tyler Soderstrom, Mason Miller, and Lawrence Butler are some of the top prospects getting a look as the season winds down. Joe Boyle is the latest guy getting a chance in the green and gold, and in his MLB debut, he looked like someone that could be in the mix for a rotation spot at some point next season.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on July 31 in exchange for lefty reliever Sam Moll. At the time of the trade, Boyle was still in Double-A and was allowing eight walks per nine innings across 84 innings with the Reds' farm team. The 100 mile per hour fastball that he possesses and the 13.07 strikeouts per nine innings were an enticing combo, though.

He reported to Double-A Midland after the trade and in 17 1/3 innings, he saw his strikeout rate go up (14.54) and his walk rate plummet to 3.63. In his first taste of Triple-A those numbers reverted back a little (10.13 strikeouts and 6.19 walks per nine), but they also came in a tough pitcher's league and in his first exposure to the next level. 

Boyle, 24, served as the opener for Sunday's series finale, and tallied three shutout innings, giving up one hit, walking two, and striking out four. Fernando Tatís Jr. accounted for two of those strikeouts when Boyle froze him with a cutter on the outside edge in the first, and then a fastball at the bottom of the zone in the third. 

The first (and only) hit he allowed came off the bat of Juan Soto on an opposite field single. 

The San Diego Padres boast a star-studded lineup, but Boyle wasn't fazed, even in his debut. He admitted that his heart rate was higher than usual for that first frame, "but that just meant that I had to focus more on what I could control and what had been working for me this year. Once I got out there it just felt like baseball. Obviously you know the kind of hitters they are. You know that they're good and what they can handle and what their strengths and weaknesses are, so you prepare for that going into it. Once you get out there, it felt just like baseball." 

Boyle showed off four pitches, but relied on his strengths in his debut, throwing 60% fastballs which ranged from 96-100 miles per hour. "For him, making his debut, we kept it simple" catcher Shea Langeliers said postgame. "Tried to stick to his strengths, just what he was comfortable with doing. What he liked to do, and it turned out pretty good."

The righty also mixed in his cutter (26%), curveball (12%) and threw one slider that was fouled off. 

A's manager Mark Kotsay said postgame that the coaches would be discussing giving Boyle a full start in the final two weeks of the season. "The performance today warrants him going out and getting that opportunity. Extending him a little bit further. We talked about getting our eye on him today, and what we saw is obviously impressive. It's something to build on. We're looking forward to seeing it again."

When asked what Boyle would remember from his debut day in 15-20 years, he said with a smile, "Gonna remember how I burned my tongue on a cup of coffee this morning."