Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’4”/210
Acquired: 1st rd – 7th overall 2010 (UNC)
Born: 3/27/89 (New London, CT)
2010 Rank: NR (he was in college)
Why Ranked Here:
Harvey has the ideal size at 6’4” that Major League teams look for in their pitchers. His fastball sits from 92-96. He complements it with a hard slider, curveball and changeup. Baseball America reports that he threw a true curveball as a younger player, but now prefers the slider. In the past, in most cases, the Mets have asked their a-ball pitchers to focus primarily on fastball command, one breaking ball and a changeup before adding more pitches at double-A. For example, Jonathan Niese didn’t really start throwing his cutter until he reached double-A. It will be very interesting to see which breaking ball the Mets ask Harvey to focus on to begin his professional career or if he’s encouraged to throw all four pitches from the get-go.
Harvey had an inconsistent collegiate career as a Tar Heel. He earned second-team Freshman All-American honors for a 2008 season in which he ran a 2.79 ERA, allowed under seven hits per nine innings, and struck out over 10.5 batters per nine. However, in 2009, his sophomore year, his ERA ballooned to 5.40 because he allowed more hits, 88 in 75 innings. He recovered in 2010 with his best overall collegiate year with a 3.09 ERA, 7.5 H/9, 3.28 BB/9 and 9.56 K/9. One positive trend from Harvey’s college time: his walk rate dropped every year, from 6.25 BB/9 as a freshman, to 5.04 as a sophomore in 2009 to 3.28 as a junior in 2010.
2010: The Mets top draft pick at #7 overall, out of the University of North Carolina, Matt Harvey did not pitch in a professional game after signing for $2.525 million at the August deadline. Harvey pitched very briefly at the Mets fall instructional league in Fort Myers but had to leave early to attend to family issues.
Dr. Pangloss Says: A front of the rotation starter
Debbie Downer Says: A hard throwing reliever
Projected 2011 Start: St. Lucie, but I expect him to see Binghamton in the second half
MLB Arrival: September 2012. Battling for a job 2013.
