New York Mets: Five best homegrown players since 1980
5. Matt Harvey
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If we look past his bad behavior, the work of his agent and the injuries Matt Harvey absolutely belongs on this list.
Harvey was selected by the Mets with the number seventh pick overall in the 2010 draft. After a lot of hype from the minor leagues, Harvey made his debut on July 26, 2012, going 5 1/3 innings, striking out 11(team record). He added two hits at the plate, becoming the first pitcher in modern baseball history to strike out double digits and smack two hits in their debut.
That season Harvey finished with a 3-5 record, but his velocity is what jumped off of the screen, reaching 98 MPH with regularity. He struck out 70 in 59 1/3 innings.
The strong pitching continued to blossom in 2013 when Harvey posted a 9-5 record with a 2.27 ERA, striking out 191 in 178 1/3 innings, earning him a start in the All-Star game. His first surgery came in October of that year and we know where he eventually wound up. But not yet.
In 2015 Harvey returned, but we did have the controversy of innings that involved Scott Boras. But that isn’t for this discussion. He posted a career high13 wins and a 2.71 ERA. Nobody will forget the gutsy performance he put in game 5 of the World Series, getting through eight shutout innings before the team lost in extras.
It’s been downhill from there thanks to his health, but his sheer talent cannot be ignored.