Orioles’ Harvey Has Hernia Surgery
BALTIMORE—Righthander Hunter Harvey had successful sports-hernia surgery, and the Orioles hope the 2013 first-rounder will be pitching again no later than July 1.
Dr. William Meyers performed the surgery on May 2 in Philadelphia. Players routinely are sidelined four to six weeks.
“That came out good,” big league manager Buck Showalter said.
Harvey experienced two setbacks this spring after leaving an exhibition start in the third inning with discomfort in his groin. The latest occurred at extended spring training and led to the examination and surgery.
Harvey hasn’t pitched in a minor league game since July 25, 2014, at low Class A Delmarva, mostly because of a strained right flexor mass. He also sustained a fractured right fibula after being hit by a comebacker during a start in 2015 spring training.
Harvey’s sports-hernia surgery could extend his absence to two full years. However, the Orioles don’t consider this to be a major setback for the 21-year-old because he isn’t dealing with one chronic injury.
“I think if he pitches from June (and) July on and finishes up strong like we think he can, I think he’s OK,” Showalter said. “But you’d really like to see him get the ball every fifth day at some point and kind of get some of that experience he needs to finish off some things.”
The Orioles retain high hopes for Harvey, a high school product of Catawba, N.C., and the 22nd overall pick in 2013. He is the son of former major league closer Bryan Harvey.
Harvey went 7-5, 3.18 in 17 starts at Delmarva in 2014, striking out 10.9 and walking 3.4 per nine innings.
Staying healthy this spring would have allowed him to begin the season at high Class A Frederick, but the assignment is delayed by the surgery.
BIRD SEED
• The Orioles named first baseman Trey Mancini the organization’s player of the month for April. He batted .302/.413/.698 with four doubles, seven home runs and 14 RBIs in 17 games at Double-A Bowie before moving up to Triple-A Norfolk on April 25.
• Delmarva lefthanded reliever Garrett Cleavinger earned the organization’s pitcher of the month for April after going 3-0, 1.84 in 15 innings. The 2015 third-round pick out of Oregon allowed 10 hits, walked eight and struck out 21.
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