Matt Harvey is ‘on board’ with New York Mets’ plans for him

Matt Harvey has been actively working his way back from Tommy John surgery and the right-hander met with members of the New York media on Wednesday. ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin was in attendance, learning about Harvey’s workout regimen, and reports that the 25 year old insists that he’s “completely on board” with the organization’s plans to manage his innings this coming season.

Harvey has been throwing off of flat ground six times a week since being cleared to throw in mid-November. In another two weeks he’ll start throwing from a mound, according to Rubin, and will then spend January at Scott Boras’ complex in California before reporting to Spring Training on February 1st. He’ll begin facing live hitters then, if the team permits him.

He also noted to reporters that he’s been cleared to throw all of his pitches, with the exception of his slider. He’ll wait until late in Spring Training before he’ll work that back into the mix.

Harvey, to his credit, sounds eager to get back to his normal routine.

"You know what? I’m going to be happy to throw an entire year. Whatever they decide, it’s in the best interests of both the team and me moving forward. I can’t wait to throw every five days and just be healthy for a full season.Looking forward, if you were to map out a whole season, you’re going to have to figure out some changes throughout the year in order to get to a certain point. I mean, if you make 33 starts and seven innings a start, obviously doing the math that’s over what I’m probably going to throw."

Roughly two weeks ago GM Sandy Alderson revealed the team’s plans to sporadically work in extra days off during the regular season, utilizing the club’s young pitchers for spot starts in order to help facilitate some of the scheduling. The idea is to keep Harvey on a “soft” innings limit, while keeping him available deep in the season for a hopeful playoff run.