Former All-Star right-hander Matt Harvey took to instagram this morning to announce his retirement. “I have to say this is my time to say thank you, and goodbye.” Harvey writes, “To the fans, and most importantly the NY Mets fans: you made a dream come true for me. A dream I could have never thought to come true. Who would have thought a kid from Mystic, CT would be able to play in the greatest city in the world, his hometown. You are forever embedded in my heart.”
The seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft, Harvey was selected by the Mets and made his debut during the 2012 campaign. During that ten start cup of coffee in 2012, Harvey pitched to a sterling 2.73 ERA (140 ERA+) with a 3.30 FIP, but that was just a taste of what was to come, as the following season ended up being the best of Harvey’s career by a wide margin.
In 178 1/3 innings of work in 2013, Harvey posted a phenomenal 2.27 ERA (157 ERA+) with a league-leading 2.01 FIP. He struck out 27.7% of batters he faced that season while walking just 4.5%. That performance not only earned him the lone All-Star appearance of his career, but a top four finish in Cy Young Award voting. Unfortunately, Harvey’s phenomenal year was cut short when he required Tommy John surgery, missing the end of the 2013 campaign and the entirety of 2014 while rehabbing.
He returned to the mound in 2015 with another strong season, posting a 2.71 ERA and 3.05 FIP over 189 1/3 innings of work in the regular season. Harvey went on to pitch for the Mets during the postseason, posting a 3.04 ERA in 26 2/3 innings of work as the Mets advanced past the Dodgers and the Cubs to face the Royals in the World Series.
Harvey’s injury woes would return in 2016, however, as Harvey struggled to an uncharacteristic 4.86 ERA in 92 2/3 innings of work before being shut down for the season in July to undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Following the procedure, Harvey was never quite the same pitcher, as he struggled both in terms of results and to stay on the field. He posted a 6.15 ERA in 446 2/3 innings of work following his 2016 surgery.
Designated for assignment by the Mets early in the 2018 season, he would go on to pitch for the Reds, Angels, Royals, and Orioles before serving a 60-game suspension for “participating in the distribution of a prohibited Drug of Abuse in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.” The suspension came after Harvey testified in the trial of former communications director of the Angels Eric Kay, who was convicted of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs. During the trial, Harvey testified that he had provided Skaggs with Percocet pills.
Following his suspension, Harvey returned to the mound in the minor leagues, posting a 3.71 ERA in 70 1/3 innings. Harvey then pitched for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic this spring, where he posted a 1.29 ERA in seven innings of work over two starts, leaving his baseball career on a high note.
All in all, Harvey ends his career with a 4.42 ERA in 966 1/3 innings with 50 wins and 867 strikeouts. MLBTR wishes Harvey the best as he transitions in whatever comes next following his playing career.
Codeeg
Best of luck. Damn him and Jose Fernandez were both cooking back then and we didn’t get to see those two play out like it should.
junkmale
Jose Fernandez was a hell of a lot better than Harvey.
Dr. Van Nostrand
Could have been, wasn’t, and never can be now!
deweybelongsinthehall
Secret, I don’t agree. Harvey prior to his first injury was a star in NY. He was amongst the best there was in the game. So was Fernandez when he first came up. Injuries and perhaps immaturity ruined Harvey and sadly, Fernandez was lost way too soon.
Tigers3232
@Dewey yes Harvey at his peak was dxmn good. He was never as dominant as Fernandez though.
Codeeg
Damn not pitting them against each other, just thinking back to my expectations from that time in 2013-2015.
hllywdjff
Jose losing his life at such a young age with his talent and lost potential was in my opinion the greatest sports tragedy of all time in terms of an individual athlete…
JP8
Roberto Clemente. Fernandez was careless which led to his demise, Clemente on his way to help people and lost his life in an accident.
getrealgone2
Exactly. Roberto was being a humanitarian. Jose was being a dumb ass.
johnrealtime
Dr. Van Nostrand definitely has some skeletons in their closet. Holier than thou attitude stinks of it
Dr. Van Nostrand
You’re reaching, John.
deweybelongsinthehall
Look up Lyman Bostock if you want to talk about another true tragedy.
dasit
and len bias
cocaine is a hell of drug
deweybelongsinthehall
Bostock was murdered which along with Clemente belong in a separate category IMHO
Tigers3232
@#8 KN was never found guilty of any criminal wrongdoing. If you are familiar with the details of the case she was in his room by choice and almost certainly with the intent of getting plowed. If anything KB was guilty of poor judgment, young athletes should know they re viewed as paydays.
Fever Pitch Guy
Kramer – Don’t forget Hank Gathers at Age 23, Reggie Lewis at Age 27 and Aaron Hernandez at Age 27.
Dr. Van Nostrand
Aaron Hernandez got what he deserved.
Fever Pitch Guy
Kramer – I certainly agree, I just threw his name in there as a lark. Definitely no tears shed for him. I still don’t understand how him and Tebow were good friends down in Florida..
marcfrombrooklyn
Just because you would lie about being raped to get a payout doesn’t mean most people would. It just means you are a sociopath and a misogynist.
#8
Right, because KB was a closeted gay man.
CrikesAlready
Too many people worship the rapist for my liking. It’s obvious who those hypocrite worshippers vote for.
User 3595123227
Who?
Tigers3232
@Crikes who is worshipping him??? Prosecutors didn’t deem it worthy of trying in court and all the facts that were made publicly didn’t sound as tho he was guilty.
Vince Ferragamo's Dog
Brian Piccolo
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Ken Hubbs, ROY, GG in 1962 for the Cubs. His plane went down in 1964 & he perished when he was just 22 years old.
jimthegoat
Getting into a boating accident when you’re driving the boat drunk and high on cocaine is NOT a tragedy. Jose is in the same bucket as Charlie Haeger, Felipe Vazquez, Chad Curtis and Lenny Dykstra.
User 3595123227
My gosh what did Chad Curtis do?
halloffamernobodycares
Curtis is a convicted sex offender.
Dr. Van Nostrand
Roy Halladay has entered the chat.
DakotaJoe
How about Herb Score getting hit in the head with a line drive and his career was never the same. He was only 23 and in his third year and was probably already the best pitcher in baseball.
deweybelongsinthehall
Yep and if course Tony Conigliaro too.
cpdpoet
Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh…his fault obviously but man…
Vince Ferragamo's Dog
Dickie Thon
hiflew
Lou Gehrig. Seriously, watch Pride of the Yankees and if you don’t tear up a little you are a robot.
BaseballisLife
Jose killed 2 other people when he lost his life. He is not a hero. He could throw a baseball but he was a pathetic human being and likely would have served time in jail if he survived the accident.
Harvey cut a deal with prosecutors to keep him out of jail after his actions of feeding the addiction for opioids led to the death of Skaggs. Another pathetic human being who deserves no adulation. So glad no team was willing to take a chance on signing him after his suspension was up.
No matter what they did on the field, there were no redeeming factors for either.
LFGSD619
@BaseballisLife Exactly! And Matt Harvey was already a clubhouse cancer before that happened.
#8
The Dark Knight has done a huge amount for charity. You’re welcome.
LFGSD619
So did Jeffrey Epstein.
Viveleempireevil
Like what? Offering bulk discounts for large customers?
Seamus O'Meara
Nobody told him to operate a boat while impaired. All this outpouring of sorrow for Fernandez but he essentially killed himself because of a stupid decision.
LFGSD619
@Seamus O’Meara Yep! And this is the part where his defenders’ heads explode like “No OnE fOrCeD tHoSe GuYs To GeT oN the BoAt WiTh JoSe AnD tHeY wErE dRuNk ToO !”
hiflew
Do you not have the capacity to feel sorrow for a flawed human being that made a poor decision and paid the ultimate price? I think that says more about you than about him.
tomr
Too many gone too young, not trying to make this a contest. Just remembering a few more… Nick Adenhart, Pat Tillman, Sean Taylor.
HankAaronDidGreenies
Crazy that you compared a murderer to a murderer.
HankAaronDidGreenies
Killed Tyler Skaggs in order to save a buck. RIP Bozo
DarkSide830
Good riddance
CravenMoorehead
Exactly
Fever Pitch Guy
It’s amazing how fast the mighty can fall.
BTW – Mystic aquarium is great, but Mystic Pizza … not so much.
deweybelongsinthehall
New Haven Pizza Fever. I grew up on it and while I don’t recall meeting Frank Pepe, I did meet Sal and Flo.
JoeBrady
Pepe’s pepperoni pizza is the best out there, by far.
User 3595123227
Sam’s Choice is really good as well.
Fever Pitch Guy
dewey – Now you’re talkin’ my language! Pepe’s is my absolute favorite, as long as they follow my instructions of a light baked crust because I hate burnt crust. But damn their tomato pies are awesome! Every time we go to Mohegan, we always make sure to stop at Pepe’s on the way out.
Bertucci’s is quite good as well. Still haven’t found a place that has truly authentic Sicilian pizza, which is my favorite type of pizza.
cpdpoet
I STILL don’t get the whole Julia Roberts thing…..?
Fever Pitch Guy
poet – I think she was at her best in Pretty Woman, but yeah I don’t consider her among the best.
ohyeadam
We thought he was the Dark Knight, turns out he was a joker
MarlinsFanBase
The Joker never used his own stuff.
#8
Fringe Hall of Fame candidate.
Mrsuntan
What world do you live in ?
#8
He banged 2 of some of the best Mets pitching seasons in history and he has banged dozens of more winning games since then- and I said outside chance- around 20% and definitely not first ballot.
Dr. Van Nostrand
LOL
mcmillankmm
No shot at all, won’t even stay on the ballot past his first eligible year
mcmillankmm
He won’t even make it to a second year on the ballot….man that was a good laugh
Mrsuntan
I will just assume you are a troll..or his mother. Wont even get 1% his first and only year on ballot. Now if you want to put him in the hall of “what could have been”
#8
Do you remember the phenomenon of 2013-2015???
#8
2012-2015.
bag o ballz
seriously lincecum and cain were better for longer and neither of them made it past the first ballot
ThonolansGhost
He has zero chance of getting 5% of the vote, which means he’ll drop off the ballot after the first year. Seriously, I doubt he’ll get a single vote.
ThonolansGhost
In fact, he doesn’t have the required ten seasons of playing time, so he won’t even go on the ballot.
#8
Fine, their loss.
Ted
He was 24th among MLB pitchers in WAR even over his peak ’12-’15 span. 112 pitchers threw more innings than him over those years.
If he won 4 Cy Youngs in a row and then fell apart, sure, let’s talk HoF. In the “elite but far too short career” book his career is closer to Rick Ankiel’s than Sandy Koufax’s.
deweybelongsinthehall
You need many more HOF seasons to be considered.
deweybelongsinthehall
Doc Gooden II.
Sid Bream Speed Demon
He banged? No one cares about the Mets best pitching seasons or whatever, dude won’t get 10 HOF votes.
Dr. Van Nostrand
Lay off the meth, “Speed Demon”.
neurogame
Go easy on him. May he thought he was on a William Hung chat board –
He bangs, he bangs
Oh baby, when he moves,he moves
I go crazy ’cause he looks like a flower
But he stings like a bee
Like every girl in history
He bangs, he bangs
I’m wasted by the way he moves (he moves)
No one ever looked so fine
He reminds me that a woman’s got one thing on her mind
#8
The Dark Knight has also done a huge amount for charity, FYI. “An irreplaceable player in many ways” -V. Scully
JoeBrady
he has banged dozens of more winning games since then
================================
:”Dozens more”? You literally need “hundreds more”. Guys with 53 career wins generally receive -0- votes.
MarlinsFanBase
@#8
Matt Harvey, is that you?
cleonswoboda
he also banged some really hot models and actresses.
junkmale
Yeeeeeeah. Not so much.
Idosteroids
I would put him in the hall of average players. Had 2 great seasons and then lived in the IL for the ret of his playing career.
#8
A lot of people also said Corey Patterson would never be inducted. You do the math about the Dark Knight. Don’t be surprised if The Dark Knight is inducted.
Mrsuntan
Patterson isnt in the hall. Are you drunk or skipping gym class to write this?
#8
Sorry, meant Barry Larkin. Confused them- they were both Reds.
bronxmac77
So you are drunk.
junkmale
Yeah, you are drunk. Patterson played one season for the Reds lol
ThonolansGhost
Everyone knew Larkin would go in, there was never any doubt.
neurogame
#8 – You mixed up someone who won an MVP, played 19 years with ONE team and was the first SS to have a 30-30 season with someone who only played ONE YEAR with Cincinnati?
Jeezus.
JoeBrady
meant Barry Larkin.
======================
You are either a fairly effective troll, or a low-BB IQ person. Larkin was a lock.
Viveleempireevil
I thought he meant Corey Feldman.
PhilliesBob1980
This debate is ridiculous. He’s will be permanently ineligible for the Hall of Fame because he didn’t reach the prerequisite 10 years of service time. Wasted talent.
#8
Ok, didn’t consider that.
Mrsuntan
Would you like to give us another brillant baseball insight since your 1st went over so well?
JoeBrady
Ok, didn’t consider that.
======================
That doesn’t matter. He had no shot.
bronxmac77
He’s lucky he didn’t pitch in an orange jumpsuit.
DCartrow
Only if Steve Harvey announces it, will he ever be on the ballot.
jimthegoat
He belongs in prison not the Hall of Fame.
Eighty Raw
He doesnt even meet the qualifications to be on the ballot!
#8
Fine, their loss
bronxmac77
Somehow, some way, they’ll cope.
neurogame
#8 – Their, There, They’re.
Consider learning the differences.
Mrsuntan
That is the LEAST of his problems
Monkey’s Uncle
Cringe Hall of Fame, maybe.
BaseballisLife
He is not eligible for the HOF. Not enough playing time.
Even if he had made it on the ballot, he fails on both character and performance and its doubtful he would have received even a single vote.
#8
Fine- their loss if they don’t induct him. And the HOF will continue to be a boring place because of things like that! Peter Rose, etc.
jimthegoat
Hi Matt!
13Morgs13
Highly overrated, but sorry his career was done in by injuries
bronxmac77
And nose candy.
davidk1979
Matt’s a good guy and it’s sad that his career ended so early but he seems to be in a good headspace now and I was proud of Mets fans for giving him a big ovation last year. I was at the bloody nose game and it was as dominant as I’ve seen a pitcher in person
BaseballisLife
He is not a good guy. He supplied opioids to an addict that died and the only reason he is not in jail today is because he cut a deal with the prosecutors to testify against and even worse human being. Harvey is among the worst of guys.
bronxmac77
I agree. He’s lucky he didn’t do hard time.
SonnySteele
I blame Harvey’s downfall on posing nude in ESPN’s magazine in 2013. 😉
nj.com/mets/2013/07/photo_mets_matt_harvey_nude_ph…
YankeesBleacherCreature
Well it wasn’t a detriment to other pro athletes who shot for their “Bodies” series. I used to have the mag sub.
Codeeg
Didn’t prince fielder retire because of injuries too?
bronxmac77
Incredibly, Prince and his dad Cecil retired with the same number of home runs.
neurogame
Neck herniation! Anything close to the head is not something you can risk.
Fever Pitch Guy
neuro – JR Richard would have been a HOF’er for sure if not for the stroke.
Cohn Joppolella
Mmmmmmm….
kripes-brewers
Too bad we never got to see that crazy pitching staff from those Mets years find their ceiling. Opposing teams must’ve cringed looking at facing the Mets around that time. He had his 15 minutes, made some great money, and now gets to ride off toward the sunset. Best of luck!
neurogame
Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Jacob deGrom.
Craaaaaaaazy talent that couldn’t stay healthy and put their peaks together at the same time.
bronxmac77
I believe all of them also had TJS.
They don’t teach pitchers not to overthrow any more.
Edit… Not sure about Matz. Pretty sure the others all did
Fever Pitch Guy
Bronx – More accurately, they teach pitchers to throw as hard as they can now. That’s why the much shorter outings, and many more injuries.
jimthegoat
You could have just Googled if Matz had Tommy John surgery. he did.
bronxmac77
Kind of what I was getting at.
Not that the old-fashioned didn’t sometimes get rotator-cuff tears (remember them) and other ailments. But they learned to ‘pitch’ vice ‘throw’, a phrase I used to hear but never do any more.
bronxmac77
“I believe all of them also had TJS.”
I wasn’t that interested.
Fever Pitch Guy
bronx – Agreed, and rotator cuff tears are not from overthrowing. I’ve lived with one for a few years now, I didn’t get it from overthrowing a baseball.
hiflew
Very reminiscent of Mark Fidrych and Mark Prior. HOF-caliber pitchers that were failed by their own bodies. Regardless, he still got to live out his dream which most of us cannot say. Good luck in retirement.
junkmale
Dontrelle Willis is another who comes to mind.
hiflew
Willis lasted longer in his peak form The other three were more one year wonders. I could add Brandon Webb to the list though.
junkmale
Webb had six consecutive quality seasons + a Cy Young. I wouldn’t lump him in with any of the names listed above.
hiflew
Hmm. I guess the old memory is playing tricks on me. I didn’t realize Webb lasted that long. Maybe it is just because he disappeared right after his peak season is why I forgot the rest.
bronxmac77
“Well? BYE!”
Cohn Joppolella
If the Mets ever leave NY they should totally relocate to Mystic.
Dr. Van Nostrand
The Dark Knight Retires
nottinghamforest13
“Who would have thought a kid from Mystic, CT would be able to play in the greatest city in the world, his hometown”
So is he from Connecticut or New York?
Dr. Van Nostrand
Yeah, I’m confused as well.
bronxmac77
Same difference.
CravenMoorehead
Sometimes on garbage day the trash takes itself out. 🙂
Congrats to him though and best of luck on his life after baseball.
Rsox
Good luck to him. Another in a very long list of prospects that never lived up to the hype and couldn’t get out of his own way
CaseyAbell
Mixed feelings. At his best he was a great pitcher. At his worst he was a drug dealer. Hope he stays out of trouble in his post-baseball life, but I’m not sure.
Cleon Jones
Sums it up well. Injuries shortened his career, bad decisions tarnished the legacy. But when he was on, pre TOS surgery, he was elite.
30 Parks
I recall the Strasburg vs Harvey matchup years ago in NY. “Harvey’s bet-ter!” was the chant.
Tacoshells
Good night dark knight
bronxmac77
He could deal.
I’ll give him that.
sportsgenius
He was legit awesome for a brief time. He was always about himself and his image. He asked to be in the espn nude which it’s always they ask the athletes. Was quoted in magazine interview that’s it’s not fair to women when he wears a certain blue shirt cuz he looks so good. Said he wanted to be like Jeter, ok, good high bar, purely on the women he was able to date. Mets gave him a huge 9 figure extension, he said no. Called in to the fan from the Mets clubhouse during a game, always about himself. Screw gun, I’m not saying he deserved that fall from grace but I do not feel bad for him and the what could have been, good riddance.
YankeesBleacherCreature
“Create the hype. Don’t believe in it.” Harvey had a lot going in NYC. I vaguely remember an essay he wrote on Players Tribune and he sounded like a good dude but eventually stayed caught up in off-field stuff.
knolln
The dark knight was brief and a delight off field issues aside. Thought him and Thor were ushering in the new generation of pitching… and I don’t much care for the Mets. The next round (really just degrom) was the real wtf
Chris G.
Holy crap, this comment section is a great example of why the planet won’t exist in the near future.
bronxmac77
The future is uncertain and the end is always near.
JoeBrady
.The future is uncertain and the end is always near.
============================
“No On Here Gets Out Alive” is a great book for that sort of thing
cleonswoboda
let it roll……all night long.
hiflew
Never judge the planet only on people with nothing better to do than comment on a baseball website in the middle of the day. And yes I do include myself in that grouping.
bronxmac77
I include myself in that grouping, hi.
Proudly.
“America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.”
Dr. Van Nostrand
The human race may not exist, but the planet will likely remain under control of extraterrestrials. Dang, I’ve been watching too many episodes of Ancient Aliens again.
Birdieman2
Looks like he was the last one to figure out his career was over.
davemlaw
Harvey made less than $30M in his career. He could have signed an extension with the Mets after the 2015 World Series but didn’t. He can thank Boras for that.
Good luck in retirement.
JoeBrady
That’s why it is sometimes good to take the extensions. Sign away all your control years and you’re set for life. If you become real successful then you lost a little money, but will still make it up when you become a FA. And if you aren’t successful, you’ll be glad to have the guarantees..
bronxmac77
Bingo. Some says nine figures, I’m signing.c
Mrbarky
Harvey has 7 yrs 127 days in the pension plan.Comes out to $172,500 at age 62 .Also great health care plan..I,m jealous.
377194
Plus the $28 million he made.
johnrealtime
I’d bet that the vast majority of that is gone
bronxmac77
I’d bet it too.
And as others have said, he turned down huge offers. Oops.
LFGMets (Metsin7)
Thorasic Outlet surgery really ruined his whole career. I haven’t seen one pitcher come back strong from that surgery. Though Matt was always coked up, he still pitched well. I think he now regrets some of his choices he made when he was younger
YankeesBleacherCreature
Don’t we all in hindsight?
bronxmac77
Amen brother.
kodiak920
As the Dark Knight, he really did capture the imagination of Mets fans for a short time. Injuries did him in. Sadly, Stras is in the same boat after TOS.
Dr. Van Nostrand
Worst pitcher contract in baseball history.
#8
*Remember*: The Dark Knight was offered an extension for hundreds of millions of dollars but he turned it down out of concern of how it would impact the team’s payroll/ability to sign other big contracts. Did a huge amount for charity too, all while being the best pitcher in MLB for a half a decade and working very fast on the mound (ahead of his time in terms of the pitch timer). 20% chance The Dark Knight Rises to the Hall of Fame (won’t be 1st-ballot though- I will tell you that).
#8
10%
bronxmac77
0%.
neurogame
You’re still playing this song? You are a troll. It is pointed out to you in a previous message that he doesn’t have 10 years of MLB service time, which only opens the gate to being on the ballot.
#8
He wouldn’t be the 1st one, so it’s a moot point.
Viveleempireevil
I’m sorry #8 but…as much as I’d love to continue to follow your comments regarding the metaphysical certitude that my left leg is elected to the HOF before the dark knight…but I’ve got to go as I’m due back on planet earth.
Mrsuntan
Moron or troll? Either way i hope mom comes down to the basement and turns off the computer
Bill M
He’s got to be pulling our collective leg. He couldn’t possibly be serious
junkmale
LOL I kind of want Matt Harvey to come across this entire comments thread. What a day for MLBTR.
humphrey x boegarts
there’s a good chance he is #8
Dr. Van Nostrand
Nosecandy Fernandez too. Oh, wait…
bronxmac77
Nothing I’d type I wouldn’t say to his face, satin.
kingsfan1968
He sure did fleece the Angels!
Vince Ferragamo's Dog
Like 4years late, been gasoline on a fire
DarrenDreifortsContract
I still remember when Mets fans were trying to convince people that Harvey was better than Kershaw lol.
raregokus
Some real pieces of garbage in the replies claiming that Jose Fernandez deserved to die. Maybe one day the people who run this place will actually moderate the content lowlifes post here
MarlinsFanBase
What an amazing career! All those Mets “Five Aces” dominated baseball for so many years. Look at the greatness of deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz and Wheeler! All five will be in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot! They even surpassed “Generation K”, the other great Mets staff!
Sorry for being an Angels fan
Gotta hand it to the guy for never giving up on making his comeback.
Amy Larder
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