Matt Harvey

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #2 prospect in 2012
  Harvey signed for $2.525 million as the 2010 draft's seventh overall pick. He began his pro career in style by leading the high Class A Florida State League with 92 strikeouts through June 20, his last start before earning a promotion to Double-A. He overcame a rough beginning at Binghamton to go 5-1, 3.26 over his final nine starts while notching a 50-19 strikeout-walk ratio in 47 innings. Harvey dominated high Class A hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball that clocks as high as 98. He locates his fastball to both sides of the plate and with good life down in the zone. His two-seamer runs in on the hands of righthanders. His No. 2 pitch is a plus 81-84 mph slider, and he also likes to throw a 12-to-6 curveball to catch opponents off guard. He got by without a changeup in the FSL but began throwing one in earnest in Double-A. His changeup features late fade but remains a bit firm in the mid-80s. Harvey holds his velocity deep into starts but has below-average command and presently lacks a reliable changeup, so evaluators project him as anywhere from a No. 2 starter to a high-leverage reliever. How he addresses those concerns as he pitches in Triple-A in 2012 will determine where he fits best.
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  Ranked New York Mets #4 prospect in 2011
  One of the top prep pitchers in the 2007 draft, Harvey slid to the third round because of signability and turned down the Angels to attend North Carolina. Inconsistent in his first two years, he had a strong junior season in 2010 and went seventh overall in the draft. He signed at the Aug. 16 deadline for a slightly over-slot $2.525 million. Harvey has the physicality and arm strength favored by the Mets when they select college righthanders at the top of the draft. The line traces back from Harvey to Brad Holt to Eddie Kunz to Mike Pelfrey to Philip Humber. Harvey pitches at 91-95 mph and touches 97 with his fastball, though his control wavers because his long arm action affects his release point. He throws both a slider and a curveball, but the Mets prefer that he develop the latter, a power downer that shows flashes of being a plus-plus pitch. His mid-80s slider features depth and late finish. He needs to work on his changeup after rarely using it in as an amateur. He improved the balance and tempo in his delivery through hard work in college, a testament to his improved maturity. If he maintains direction to the plate and throws strikes, Harvey has frontof- the-rotation stuff. He'll start his pro career in high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #1 prospect in 2012
  Harvey exhausted his prospect eligibility after leaving the IL, posting a 2.73 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 59 innings with the Mets. His power stuff played just as well in the majors as it did in Triple-A, as he paired uncommon fastball velocity with a pair of sharp breaking balls. When Harvey throws consistent strikes with his 92-98 mph fastball and gets ahead of hitters, they're in trouble, because he can miss bats with both breaking balls. He throws his plus curveball at 79-84 mph and varies his slider from an 87-88 mph cutter to a pitch with more depth at 84-86. His changeup remains firm but effective, and he handles lefthanders fairly well. "He made some pretty good hitters look ordinary," Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh said. "He has poise and confidence, and he believes in his stuff."
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  Ranked Florida State League #2 prospect in 2011
  The seventh overall pick in last year's draft, Harvey made his pro debut as St. Lucie's Opening Day starter and immediately reeled off a streak of four straight starts without allowing an earned run. He had succeeded Miller as the FSL's strikeout leader when he was promoted in late June. "Even from just sitting in the stands, he looked the part," a National League scout said. "Physical. Held his velocity. All the stuff was projectable, too." Harvey has some deception in his delivery and generates good downhill angle on his fastball, which sits at 91-94 mph and reaches as high as 98. The heater also shows sinking action down in the zone and he can command it to both sides of the plate. He features a pair of power breaking balls in a 12-to-6 curveball and a slider that touches 87 mph, though the latter's bite can get inconsistent. Harvey's changeup is the least effective of his offerings, though it does feature some fading action. He pitches with an aggressive mentality and rarely needed the changeup to overmatch FSL hitters. Fort Myers manager Jake Mauer said Harvey could have dominated the league with just two pitches.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #54 prospect in 2012

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Harvey signed for $2.525 million as the 2010 draft's seventh overall pick. He began his pro career in style by leading the high Class A Florida State League with 92 strikeouts through June 20, his last start before earning a promotion to Double-A. He overcame a rough beginning at Binghamton to go 5-1, 3.26 over his final nine starts while notching a 50-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47 innings. Scouting Report: Harvey dominated high Class A hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball that clocks as high as 98. He locates his fastball to both sides of the plate and with good life down in the zone. His two-seamer runs in on the hands of righthanders. His No. 2 pitch is a plus 81-84 mph slider, and he also likes to throw a 12-to-6 curveball to catch opponents off guard. He got by without a changeup in the FSL but began throwing one in earnest in Double-A. His changeup features late fade but remains a bit firm in the mid-80s. The Future: Harvey holds his velocity deep into starts but has below-average command and presently lacks a reliable changeup, so evaluators project him as anywhere from a No. 2 starter to a high-leverage reliever. How he addresses those concerns as he pitches in Triple-A in 2012 will determine where he fits best.