Out of the major releases that came out this weekend, I intend to see Non-Stop starring Liam Neeson, but I will not be able to make it out to the theater in the immediate future. So instead of talking about why I want to see Non-Stop or shamelessly posting a video from high school or writing up a review for a movie that came out a few years ago, I am going to enlighten you about Matt Harvey, the Mets’ star pitcher.
If you lived in New York, it would have been hard to not hear about Matt Harvey over the course of 2013. Not only was he a major celebrity within New York, but he had appeal across the United States because of his dominant pitching, his naked body, and his skit on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Matt Harvey’s rise to prominence was not a foregone conclusion in 2012 when he made his debut for the New York Mets. He was a major pitching prospect and a critical part of the Mets’ rebuilding effort, but outside of New York, he was not viewed as that big of a deal. He pitched great down the stretch in 2012 after his July call-up, posting a 2.73 ERA (earned run average, or how many runs he would give up if he pitched 9 innings) and striking out 70 in only 59 1/3 innings.
Harvey pitching during his MLB debut in 2012
Heading into 2013, a lot was expected from Harvey, but no one expected him to become one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. His legend began to grow when he finished April with a minuscule ERA of 1.56.
On April 13th, he no-hit the Minnesota Twins for the first 6 2/3 innings before giving up a solo homerun. On April 19th, he out-dueld ballyhooed phenom Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals. Mets’ fans responded with cheers of “Harvey’s better!” The idea that Harvey was better than Strasburg would have been laughable prior to 2013.
On May 7th, Matt Harvey pitched 9 innings and nearly pitched a perfect game (he gave up a single that did not even get out of the infield in the 7th inning) and struck out 12 White Sox. While his pitching performance would have been great without the presence of a physical ailment, Harvey managed this tremendous performance with blood pouring profusely from his nose.
Matt Harvey pitching against the White Sox as blood poured from his nose
While Matt Harvey continued his incredible pitching, the rest of America began to take notice for reasons other than his dominance on the mound. He was chosen as one of the athletes to be featured in “The Body Issue” of ESPN The Magazine, an issue where athletes pose nude. His photos were some of the most talked about from the 2013 installment.
Around the same time, Matt Harvey was featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. There was a segment in which Matt Harvey asked fans on the street what they thought of Matt Harvey. He was a new enough sensation that fans knew who he was but did not know what he looked like. Harvey was able to get completely honest impressions from the fans as they often had no idea they were talking to the Mets’ star pitcher.
Matt Harvey was chosen to start the All Star Game for the National League squad on July 16. This moment was particularly sweet for both Harvey and the fans because the game took place at Citi Field, the home of the Mets. He pitched two scoreless innings.
Unfortunately, the following month, Matt Harvey was diagnosed with a small tear in his UCL. After the season, it was determined that he needed Tommy John surgery to repair his elbow. He is not expected to pitch for the Mets in 2014.
While he may not be expected to pitch in 2014, that does not mean he won’t. Harvey has already made clear that he intends to return in August or September of this season. His determination and fire is what makes Matt Harvey so great, so it would not surprise me if he managed to return prior to 2015.
The Mets need Matt Harvey. He finished 2013 with a sparkling 2.27 ERA and provided so many incredible moments for Mets fans. Every time he took the mound was a spectacle.
I hope to see the legend of Matt Harvey continue in 2014 (he has already begun throwing a baseball again, only 4 months after surgery so I suppose anything is possible).
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