On Sunday, May 7, New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey was suspended for violating team rules. Mets Manager Terry Collins mentioned that he was not going to be providing the full details as to what happened. Sources state that Harvey was out late on a Friday night and stayed out “past curfew.” To add to that, he went to play golf the following morning.
Harvey stated that he had a migraine on Saturday morning and was unable to attend the game. The Mets sent employees to check on him to see if everything was okay as the team was getting ready to play against the Miami Marlins.
On May 9, he entered the media room, looking down and speaking to his teammates and coaches. He explained that he was extremely sorry, and that it was his responsibility to attend the game. He feels bad for those fans that wanted to see him pitch.
Manager Collins was happy with how Harvey was able to apologize to his teammates. This was not the first time that Harvey has done something like this. In October 2015, Harvey did not show up for the first workout during the postseason. He eventually got caught staying out late with some friends.
Collins mentioned that this suspension should teach Harvey a lesson. The pitcher’s contract is up, and he could be a free agent for the 2018 season.
During the 2016 season, Harvey was struggling a bit, as he was dealing with shoulder pain. It turned out that he had thoracic outlet syndrome, which is when there is a compression of the nerves. He had surgery to help fix it, which ended his season, and he had hoped he was getting better. At the start of the 2017 season, he was back and off to a good start. Unfortunately, now he is suspended.
The one way Harvey can prove himself to the Mets nation is to make sure he does his best when he is on the mound, and to help out with the Mets’ struggling rotation. He was selected as seventh in the pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.
The 28-year-old made his MLB debut with the Mets on July 26, 2012. His current Win-Loss record is 31-28, ERA 2.94, strikeouts 535, and WHIP 1.08. He won the All-Star Award in 2013, and was the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 2015.
He’s a powerful pitcher, considering he is 6’4’’ and weighs 225 lbs. He is good with his core four pitches: the slider, the curve ball, the fastball and the change up. Harvey’s fastball goes up to 96 miles per hour. However, he is known for mostly using his slider, which can reach up to 92 miles per hour.
My advice for Harvey is to prioritize his baseball career. Of course he can go out and have fun, but he should not do it to a point where he may risk his career. If his actions continue to be viewed as unreliable, other teams might not want him.