Harvey Succumbs To Elbow Surgery
BALTIMORE—Righthander Hunter Harvey, the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 draft, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on July 26 in Charlotte and began rehabbing at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla. Dr. Donald D’Alessandro performed the procedure.
It seemed to be an inevitable conclusion.
The flexor mass in his elbow had been an issue for Harvey in the past. The Orioles shut him down at low Class A Delmarva in July 2014 because of a strain.
Harvey was pitching at short-season Aberdeen this summer when he exited a start after just 23 pitches because of more soreness in his forearm and elbow area.
General manager Dan Duquette estimated that Harvey, 21, could resume pitching in 12 to 18 months.
“With the elbow, we always try a number of different options before we get to surgery,” Duquette said. “We knew that (he) had a couple of setbacks with his elbow, but based on the information and his willingness, we were going to try to pitch and see if he could pitch effectively.
“There are several pitchers in the big leagues who can pitch effectively with the type of injury that Hunter had. Some of the younger pitchers, if they’re not as physically mature as some of the big leaguers, then you have to go the surgical option.
“In Hunter’s case, we tried a couple of different options and, ultimately, here we are. Given that we waited, we lost some time.”
Harvey last pitched with regularity in 2014, when he made 17 starts and logged 88 innings at Delmarva.
The Orioles are willing to wait on Harvey, who attended high school in Catawba, N.C., and is the son of former big league closer Bryan Harvey.
Said big league manager Buck Showalter: “I think if you’re looking at (Harvey) and Dylan (Bundy) and some of the challenges we’re going to be able to put behind him, and you look at the history of those things, I like our chances of getting an effective pitcher down the road.”
BIRD SEED
• Delmarva catcher Yermin Mercedes earned South Atlantic League player-of-the-month honors for July after hitting .375 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 14 RBIs.
• Delmarva righthander Ofelky Peralta was named the organization’s minor league pitcher of the month for July after going 3-0, 2.57 in four starts. He allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out 21 in 21 innings.
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