New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey is not expected to pitch this season because he is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he told the New York Post that he plans to start throwing Feb. 22.
“They said I should be able to start throwing four months after the surgery and that’s Feb. 22, and I haven’t had any setbacks,” Harvey said Thursday. “I can’t wait. Even if it’s 10 feet, I just want to pick up a ball. As if right now, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to do that.”
Harvey also said on WFAN on Friday that his rehab is going “really smoothly” since his Oct. 22 surgery and that he recently resumed weight training. He plans to report to spring training on Feb. 15 with the Mets’ other pitchers and catchers.
Harvey hopes to pitch before the end of the season, but MetsBlog.com reported that general manager Sandy Alderson told season-ticket holders Thursday that it is unlikely that he will pitch this year, even if the Mets are in a pennant race. Recovery time from Tommy John surgery is usually 12-15 months.
Harvey, 24, went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 starts before the elbow injury ended his season. He started last year’s All-Star game in New York.