Being the fierce competitor that he is, Matt Harvey was pestering anyone and everyone about being given the chance to get back out there on the mound even if it was to pitch just one inning at the end of the 2014 season. However, the Mets decided to follow the prudent course, which was to wait until the 2015 season to let Harvey take the mound again.
With that in mind, it is no wonder that following surgery to remove a rib to alleviate the effects of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Harvey believes his rehabilitation is going slower than he expected. As reported by Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News, Harvey said:
“I’m doing well, coming along, Rehab’s a little slow but it’s coming along. I’m doing whatever the doctors say and it’s a little bit slower than I thought but I’m doing everything I can to get back on the field.”
While rehabilitation is going slower than Harvey expected, he will continue to follow medical advice. Harvey said the time-frame for him to begin pitching again is “whatever the doctor’s say it is.”
This marks a somewhat different, and perhaps more mature Harvey. Without any timetable established yet for when he can begin baseball activities, it is unclear when Harvey will be able to begin throwing off a mound again. Given the relatively small sample size of pitchers who have had the same procedure, that’s perfectly understandable.
However, given his past history and coupled with his competitiveness, we should expect to see the Harvey of old back on the mound at some point early next season at Citi Field.
