The New York Mets may be free falling at the moment (2-8 in last ten games), but their season is quickly becoming marked by historically great pitching performances.
Rookie Matt Harvey added to that narrative Thursday with his major league debut. The 22-year-old righty struck out a team-record 11 batters in his first game. Harvey went 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 11 K against the Arizona Diamondbacks to pick up his first win. The 2010 first-round pick provided momentary excitement for a team 11.5 out of first in the NL East.
A University of North Carolina product, Harvey first appeared on the Mets A+ squad. At 22-years old, Harvey went 13-5 with 156 strikeouts in 135.2 A+ and AA innings in 2011. Harvery opened his 2012 year in AAA. Before his call-up, Harvey was 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 110 innings. Batters were hitting .232 against him.
Harvey’s debut included fastballs at 98 mph, something his manager, Terry Collins, took note of.
“I haven’t seen a 98 [mph pitch] out of a starting pitcher in quite some time,” Collins said. “And I saw several out of him today. He’s lived up to exactly what everybody has talked about. Now I want him to go out the next time and be a little more comfortable and pitch as effectively as he did today.”
Harvey also found time to pick up two hits, including a rip over the center fielder’s head for a double. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first pitcher in the modern era to strike out 11 batters and collect two hits in his big league debut.
The only blemish on Harvey’s night was his control. He threw 106 pitches, 41 for a ball. His next appearance in San Francisco will come with the challenge of cutting down his pitch count.
Harvey enjoyed a magical debut Thursday. From here on out, he will just be one of the guys.
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