Tommy Boyce had big night for Salt Lake, saw 3 seasons

Tommy Boyce had a good night for independent rookie Salt Lake in this August 1988 game. He picked up two doubles, four total hits and four RBI, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.

Boyce credited his good night to his spot in the lineup, third, The Tribune wrote.

"I knew we were slumping and I felt I had to try to get something going," Boyce told The Tribune. It was nice to see the ball fall in for a change."

Boyce turned in that performance in his first season as a pro. He went on to see two more. He topped out at high-A.

Boyce's career began that year in 1988, signed by independent Salt Lake out of the New York Institute of Technology.

Boyce started with Salt Lake and got into 64 games. He hit .282, with 41 total RBI and three stolen bases.

He moved to independent Miami in 1989 and also saw a brief stint with affiliated Kenosha. He saw eight games with the Twins farm team and hit .188. He then saw 49 with Miami and hit .276.

Boyce returned to Miami for 1990. He got into 53 games and hit .206. He also hit four home runs, one to lead off an inning in a May game. That season marked his last as a pro.

Boyce has since returned to the New York City area and serves in 2022 as the assistant baseball coach at Suffolk County Community College and as a coach with Eastend Baseball Academy.

• Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 18, 1988: Traps Explode Past Billings

More: The 1990 Miami Miracle

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,890
Made the Majors:1,298-33.4%
Never Made Majors:2,592-66.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:528
10+ Seasons in the Minors:325

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Toby Borland almost quit pros, then made 9 ML seasons, 10/7/21
 - Dean Borrelli played 8 pro seasons, turned coach, instructor, 2/23/14
 - Joseph Bosco wrote books on Peoria Chiefs, OJ trial, 11/26/19

 - Shawn Boskie saw 9 ML seasons, had complete-game in debut, 4/15/12
 - Dick Bosman helped young pitchers in minors, later majors, 7/6/10
 - Dave Boss came around in college game, saw 2 pro seasons, 2/9/17
 - Derek Botelho played in 2 ML seasons, coached in minors, 2/4/15
 - Alan Botkin played team game over 7 pro seasons, made AA, 5/11/17
 - Kent Bottenfield had tough insides, saw nine majors seasons, 4/17/14
 - Jake Botts threw high school no-hitter, saw 3 pro seasons, 5/26/19