Following Tommy John Surgery in October, New York Mets right-handed pitcher Matt Harvey will pick up a baseball on Feb. 22 for the first time and the National League All-Star Game starter hopes that he can pitch for the team in 2014.
The New York Post reports that Harvey said he hasn't suffered any setbacks and hopes to throw on the planned Feb. 22 date.
"They said I should be able to start throwing four months after the surgery, and that's Feb. 22," Harvey told the New York Post. "And I haven't had any setbacks. I can't wait. Even if it's 10 feet, I just want to pick up a ball. As of right now, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to do that."
ESPN reports that Harvey is expected to report to Port St. Lucie, Fla. with other Mets pitchers on the Feb. 15 report date.
Harvey, who wrestled with the decision of whether or not to have surgery following being sidelined with an ulnar collateral ligament tear in August, still plans to pitch in 2014 despite the fact that the normal recovery time from such a surgery is 12 months. Harvey consulted many different people before undergoing the operation in October.
Harvey said he realizes that there is no reason for him to rush back--especially with the uncertainty over how the Mets will compete this year--but also said that he still would like to pitch in 2014.
"I completely agree that I shouldn't come back too soon," Harvey said per the New York Post. "I haven't touched a baseball yet, so I don't know how things are going to go once that happens. But if things are still progressing and it shows I'm ready to go and I get cleared, I want to be able to play."
The Mets went 74-88 last season for the second consecutive year and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season, and will try to avoid making it eight years without their ace in 2014.
In his first full season with the Mets, Harvey was a bright spot, going 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA, a 0.931 WHIP and 191 strikeouts.
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