Matt Harvey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Harvey |
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Harvey with the New York Mets in 2013
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: March 27, 1989 New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 26, 2012, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 8, 2021, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 50–66 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.42 | ||
| Strikeouts | 867 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Matthew Edward Harvey (born March 27, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was nicknamed "the Dark Knight" during his time with the New York Mets.
Harvey played baseball and basketball in high school. He continued his baseball career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The New York Mets picked Harvey in the 2010 MLB draft. He was the seventh player chosen overall. In his first MLB game on July 26, 2012, Harvey set a team record. He had 11 strikeouts and earned his first win.
Harvey had a great season in 2013. He was chosen to play in the MLB All-Star Game. He missed the 2014 season because of Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2015 and helped his team win the National League pennant. They went to the World Series. After more injuries, his career became more difficult. He played for the Italy national baseball team later in his career.
Contents
Early Life and High School Baseball
Matt Harvey was born in New London, Connecticut. He grew up in Mystic, Connecticut. His parents, Ed and Jackie Harvey, were both teachers. Matt has two older sisters. His father was also a talented athlete. He played baseball and football at the University of Connecticut. He even coached Matt's high school baseball team.
Matt was a big fan of the New York Yankees when he was young. He especially looked up to players like Derek Jeter. From elementary school, he always wrote that his goal was to play professional baseball.
At Fitch Senior High School, Matt played both baseball and basketball. His dad was his baseball coach. He was teammates with another future MLB pitcher, Jesse Hahn. Even as a freshman, Matt could throw a baseball very fast, up to 90 miles per hour. He often pitched full games, striking out many batters. He also played summer baseball for different teams across the country.
As a high school senior, Matt was seen as one of the best pitchers in the 2007 MLB draft. However, he was picked later than expected. This was because he sometimes struggled with control. The Los Angeles Angels offered him a contract, but Matt chose to go to college instead. He decided to play for the UNC Tar Heels.
College Baseball Career
Matt Harvey went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied sports administration. During his college career, he won 22 games and had a 3.73 earned run average (ERA). He is one of the top pitchers in UNC history for strikeouts and wins.
Matt also played summer baseball for the Chatham Anglers. This was part of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2008, he had a very low ERA of 0.83. He struck out many batters. He returned in 2009 after a tough year in college. His time in Cape Cod helped him improve his pitching skills. His college coach said Matt returned with a "more professional approach."
Professional Baseball Journey
The New York Mets chose Matt Harvey as the seventh overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft. He was listed as 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 210 pounds. He batted and threw with his right hand.
Starting in the Minor Leagues
In 2011, Matt's first year in the Mets' minor league system, he played for two teams. He started with the St. Lucie Mets and then moved up to the Binghamton Mets. He had a good record with St. Lucie, winning 8 games and having a 2.37 ERA. He was named a Mid-Season All-Star. He also pitched in the All-Star Futures Game for the U.S. team.
In 2012, Matt was considered one of the Mets' top young players. He was invited to spring training but started the season in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. He continued to pitch well, earning Mid-Season All-Star honors there too. The Mets waited to bring him to the major leagues until they felt he was fully ready.
New York Mets Highlights
2012: Major League Debut
Matt Harvey was called up to the Mets in July 2012. This happened after some other pitchers got injured. He became the team's fifth starting pitcher.
In his first MLB game on July 26, 2012, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Matt pitched well. He struck out 11 batters in just over five innings. He also got his first major league hit, a double. He set a Mets record for strikeouts in a debut game. He was also the first player since 1900 to strike out 10 or more batters and get two hits in his first game. His manager, Terry Collins, said Matt "lived up to exactly what everybody's talked about."
Matt finished his first season with a 3–5 record. He had a 2.73 ERA in 10 starts. The Mets limited his innings to protect his arm.
2013: The Dark Knight Rises
In 2013, Matt Harvey continued to impress. Many people praised his strong arm and control. Some even compared him to famous pitchers like Justin Verlander. Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine said Matt could be "the best Met pitcher to ever wear the uniform." He was named Pitcher of the Month for April.
On May 7, Matt almost pitched a perfect game. He retired the first 20 batters he faced. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. They called him "The Dark Knight of Gotham." This nickname stuck because he was a fan of Batman. Fans and teammates started calling his pitching days "Harvey Day."
Matt was chosen as the starting pitcher for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game. The game was held at the Mets' home ballpark, Citi Field. On August 7, he pitched his first career complete game shutout.
Later that month, Matt was diagnosed with a partial tear in his elbow ligament. He had Tommy John surgery in October. This meant he would miss the entire 2014 season. He finished 2013 with a 9–5 record and a 2.27 ERA.
2014: Recovery and Return
Matt Harvey had successful Tommy John surgery in October 2013. Doctors expected him to miss all of 2014. He worked hard on his recovery. He even tweeted that "2014 Harvey Day will happen," hoping to return early. However, the Mets decided to be cautious. They announced he would not pitch until the start of the 2015 season. This was to ensure his full recovery.
2015: Comeback and World Series Run
On April 9, 2015, Matt Harvey returned to pitching after his surgery. He pitched six scoreless innings. Many people were impressed, including other players. Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martínez even said Matt could have a better career than his own.
Matt had a great season. He hit his first career home run on July 11. There was some discussion about limiting his innings to protect his arm. But Matt made it clear he wanted to pitch in the playoffs.
He pitched well in the playoffs. He earned a win in Game 3 of the NLDS. He also started Game 1 of the 2015 World Series. In Game 5 of the World Series, he asked to pitch the ninth inning with a 2–0 lead. However, he gave up a walk and a double. The Royals tied the game and eventually won the World Series.
2016: Injury Struggles
Matt Harvey struggled at the start of the 2016 season. His pitching speed and control were not as good. In July, he had season-ending surgery. This was to fix a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome. He finished the season with a 4–10 record and a 4.86 ERA. He said he hoped the surgery would help him get "back on track."
2017: More Injuries and Challenges
After his surgery, Matt started the 2017 season well. But his struggles from 2016 soon returned. On May 7, he was suspended for three games for breaking team rules. It was later known that he did not show up to Citi Field the day before. In June, he was placed on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his shoulder blade. This required surgery. He ended the season with a 5–7 record and a 6.70 ERA.
2018: Leaving the Mets
Matt Harvey continued to struggle in 2018. After four starts, he had an 0–2 record and a 6.00 ERA. He was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He was visibly upset after his first bullpen appearance.
On May 4, 2018, the Mets decided to remove him from the team. This happened after he refused to be sent to the minor leagues. He had an 0–2 record and a 7.00 ERA in eight games that season.
Cincinnati Reds
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On May 8, 2018, the Mets traded Matt Harvey to the Cincinnati Reds. He joined their starting rotation. In his first start for the Reds, he pitched four scoreless innings. For the Reds in 2018, he had a 7–7 record with a 4.50 ERA.
Los Angeles Angels
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On December 21, 2018, Matt Harvey signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He struggled with the Angels. He was placed on the disabled list with a back strain. He was released by the team in July 2019. He finished with a 3–5 record and a 7.09 ERA with the Angels.
Kansas City Royals
On July 28, 2020, Matt Harvey signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He was called up to the major leagues in August. He appeared in 7 games for the Royals in 2020. He had an 0–3 record with an 11.57 ERA.
Baltimore Orioles
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On February 13, 2021, Matt Harvey signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He was added to their main roster in March.
On May 12, he pitched against the New York Mets for the first time at Citi Field. It was his first start there since 2018. He struggled in the game, but Mets fans gave him a standing ovation when he left the field. He said he was "holding back tears" and that it was "very special."
He pitched against the Mets again on June 9. He struggled once more. He ended the 2021 season with a 6–14 record and a 6.27 ERA. The Orioles did not keep him after the season.
In 2022, Matt Harvey re-signed with the Orioles' minor league system. He was issued a 60-game suspension that year. He made 13 starts in the minor leagues, with an 8-1 record. He became a free agent in November.
On May 5, 2023, Matt Harvey announced he was retiring from professional baseball.
International Play
Matt Harvey played for the Italy national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He made two starts and had a low ERA of 1.29. He announced his retirement from baseball two months later.
Awards and Achievements
Minor League Honors
- MiLB.com Organization All-Star (2011)
- All-Star Futures Game Selection (2011)
- Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star (2011)
- 2x FSL Pitcher of the Week (2011)
- International League Mid-Season All-Star (2012)
Major League Honors
- National League Player of the Week (April 8–14, 2013)
- National League Pitcher of the Month (April 2013)
- All-Star selection (2013)
- National League Comeback Player of the Year (2015)
Personal Life
Matt Harvey is a fan of the New York Rangers hockey team. He often went to their games.
During his time with the New York Mets, Matt was known for his flashy lifestyle. He drove an expensive car and was often seen with fashion models. He was sometimes mentioned in New York media. In March 2017, he was seen with supermodel Adriana Lima. Matt failed to show up for a Mets game and was suspended for three days by the team.
Matt appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in May 2013. He was called "The Dark Knight of Gotham." This was a reference to Batman and Gotham City, which is like New York City. Matt was a Batman fan and liked the comparison. He even had a special Batman logo on his baseball bats. His best friend on the Mets was fellow pitcher Jacob deGrom.
Images for kids
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Harvey on the mound at Citi Field in 2012
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Harvey with the Mets in 2012
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Harvey (right) with fellow Mets starting pitchers Noah Syndergaard (left) and Jacob deGrom (center)
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Harvey with the Mets in 2016
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Harvey with the Reds in 2018
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Harvey with the Angels in 2019
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Harvey with the Orioles in 2021
