Matt Harvey Hoping For September Return From Tommy John Surgery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Matt Harvey would like get healthy for the New York Mets "right now," though he'd settle for September.
That'll be a tough sell.
Harvey knows it's "not possible" to start pitching this early coming off Tommy John surgery. But he's still holding out hope that he'll be able to salvage a few starts in 2014.
"I'd like to shoot for being out there in September," Harvey said Thursday, according to the Mets' official website. "Obviously I don't make those decisions. I can only prepare to the best of my ability and make sure I'm in good strength and flexibility, and when they do let me go, I'm good to go."
Harvey initially chose to attempt to strengthen a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The 24-year-old later reversed course, undergoing Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22.
"Everything is going well," Harvey said. "I haven't had the slightest setback. I'm itching to get back out and pick up a baseball again. Whatever the doc says, I've got to follow those rules."
He can hope for an early return all he wants. But the New York Daily News reported in October that the Mets "are not prepared to let Harvey pitch next season."
Harvey said he'll be starting plyometrics -- "kind of throwing something but in a training room" -- in the near future. He also plans to report to spring training on time with all the other pitchers and catchers, though he hasn't spoken with the team about it yet.
Harvey, who started the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field, went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA and 191 strikeouts before being shut down with the injury in late August.
"It's going to be a new experience. It is what it is," he said. "You have to keep your head down and do everything to prepare and to stay healthy and make sure something like this doesn't happen again, and that I can get out and compete and soon enough be back with those guys."
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