Major League Baseball’s 10 Most Intriguing Players
By Lou Musto
Jun 25, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets injured starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws a session in the outfield before a game against the Oakland Athletics at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
10. Matt Harvey, SP, Mets
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Mets’ future starting rotation, but its legacy relies on Harvey’s health. The 25-year-old has traveled a long road back from Tommy John surgery. He gets his chance to prove if he can still be an elite ace in 2015.
Before his injury, Harvey was 12-10 with a 2.39 ERA in 36 starts from 2012-2013. He was one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant pitchers in the game, surrendering a league-best 0.4 home runs per nine innings pitched in 2013. His strikeouts-to-walks ratio was third-best in the game at 6.161.
Paired with NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Harvey could solidify the Mets’ front-end rotation as one of the most potent in all of baseball. The right-hander must prove he’s healthy above all else, however, and that starts in Spring Training.