May 20
Matt Harvey told Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated that he intends to pitch this season and make 5-7 starts.
“Of course, I won’t do it unless I’m cleared to do it,” he said, “but I want to pitch before the year ends. I want to make five, six, seven starts this year. I asked the training staff, ‘If I want to come back in August, when do I need to start throwing off a mound?’ They said June 10. So that’s what we have penciled in right now. That’s the plan.”
Harvey said the new version of himself will be heavier and that he has sworn off his infamous bullpen sessions between starts, when he would throw just as intensely as if he were in a game.
“I feel great. I don’t feel any soreness now. The ball is coming out of my hand great.”
When asked how his agent Scott Boras feels about returning this season, Harvey responded: “I don’t work for Boras, he works for me.”
Harvey is expected to begin throwing from a mound within the next three weeks.
I hear a train coming…
May 10
Matt Harvey continues to make great progress in his comeback from Tommy John surgery after extending his throwing range from 90 feet to 120 feet on Friday at Citi Field.
“It was great,” Harvey said. “I think any sort of progress you’re making right now – being able to move back and throw from a greater distance – is a step in the right direction. Today was a good step for me and everything feels great. I’m just excited to move forward.”
Harvey will continue to throw from 120 feet for the next 2-3 weeks before moving back to 150 feet and then eventually throwing off a mound for the first time on June 10.
May 7
According to Kristie Ackert of the Daily News, Matt Harvey is expected to throw from 120 feet for the first time on Friday.
“I feel great,” Harvey said after throwing in the outfield before last night’s game against the Marlins.
The 25-year-old confirmed his immediate goal is to get back on a mound “by the beginning or middle of June.”
“Everything in my program, that I am doing now is geared toward that,” Harvey said. “It could change, but that’s what my plan is.”
Harvey rejoined the team for this series and will fly back to New York with them on Wednesday night.
It’s pretty amazing how well he has been progressing. It’s no secret that the 2013 All Star is determined to pitch again this season, despite the team’s preference he waits until 2015.
