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| Matt Harvey | |
|---|---|
| Name | Matt Harvey |
| Birth date | 27 March 1989 |
| Birth place | New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Weight | 225 lb |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| MLB debut | 26 July 2012 for the New York Mets |
| Final game | 20 June 2021 for the Kansas City Royals |
| Teams | * New York Mets (2012–2016) * Cincinnati Reds (2018) * Los Angeles Angels (2019) * Baltimore Orioles (2020) * Kansas City Royals (2021) |
Matt Harvey (born March 27, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for multiple franchises. Known for a dominant early stretch with the New York Mets, he earned an All-Star selection and played a central role in the Mets' 2015 postseason run. His career was marked by high strikeout rates, high-leverage starts, significant injuries, and attempts at comebacks across several organizations.
Born in New London, Connecticut, Harvey attended Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, Connecticut, where he was a standout pitcher and attracted attention from Major League Baseball scouts and collegiate programs. He committed to play college baseball at Clemson University but was drafted in the first round, 7th overall, by the New York Mets in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. Harvey progressed through the Mets' minor league system with stops at affiliates including the Savannah Sand Gnats, Binghamton Mets, and Buffalo Bisons, developing his fastball and breaking pitches under minor league coaching staffs and pitching coordinators within the Mets organization.
Harvey made his major league debut for the New York Mets on July 26, 2012, entering a rotation that also featured R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, and Matt Harvey's contemporaries—though avoid linking the subject per instructions. In 2013 he established himself as an ace, posting high strikeout totals against lineups from the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, and Washington Nationals. Harvey finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year Award balloting and was part of a Mets staff under general manager Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins. In 2014 he reached peak early-career prominence, earning an All-Star selection and finishing sixth in the National League Cy Young Award voting following a season that included performances against teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013 and a subsequent thoracic outlet/latissimus-related rehabilitation, Harvey returned to help the Mets reach the 2015 World Series, starting key games against postseason opponents including the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals in the regular season and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in the National League postseason. Workload management controversies and optioned rehabilitation assignments drew scrutiny from media outlets such as ESPN, MLB Network, and the New York Post. Following less consistent results and roster moves, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals while pitching at major and minor league levels, including stints with affiliates like the Louisville Bats and Salt Lake Bees.
Harvey represented American professional baseball in high-profile interleague and international contexts. He was one of the Mets' choices for marquee starts against cross-country rivals like the Boston Red Sox and high-attendance matchups at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Notable single-game performances include a dominant shutout and multiple high-strikeout outings against clubs such as the San Francisco Giants and the Miami Marlins, and postseason starts during the Mets' 2015 run, where he faced batters from the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Harvey was a right-handed power starter known for a four-seam fastball that touched the upper 90s and, at times, exceeded 100 mph. His repertoire included a low-80s slider and a secondary curveball and changeup used to neutralize lineups from teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Scouting reports from organizations including the Mets' player development department highlighted his elevated fastball velocity, strikeout-per-nine-inning rates, and ability to miss bats, aligning him with contemporaries such as Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer in pure velocity-strikeout profile comparisons, though his command and injury history produced variable outcomes.
Harvey grew up in Connecticut and maintained connections to communities in Norwich and New London County. Off the field he engaged in charity events, community appearances, and promotional activities coordinated with the Mets' community relations department and organizations such as local youth baseball programs. Media coverage of his personal life included profiles in outlets like The New York Times and Sports Illustrated, and interactions with celebrities and teammates garnered attention on social platforms and at public events at venues such as Citi Field.
Harvey's career was significantly affected by injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery (ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction) in 2013, followed by an extended rehab that involved minor league rehab starts and medical oversight from team physicians associated with the Mets and later franchises. Subsequent shoulder, thoracic outlet, latissimus-related and inflammation issues led to surgeries and altered mechanics. Rehabilitation plans involved trainers, strength coaches, and physical therapists from organizations including the Mets, Reds, Angels, Orioles, and Royals, as well as consultations with specialists frequently used by professional pitchers.
Harvey's early dominance and role in the Mets' mid-2010s resurgence created a notable legacy within the franchise and among fans. His peak seasons contributed to renewed interest in the Mets during an era that included figures such as David Wright, Jacob deGrom, and Yoenis Céspedes. Analysts at outlets like Baseball-Reference, Fangraphs, and ESPN continue to evaluate his performance, injury patterns, and the implications for pitcher workload management and medical procedures in professional baseball. His career is often cited in discussions about aces who faced significant injury setbacks and the challenges of returning to pre-injury form.
Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Major League Baseball pitchers