Matt Harvey (SP-NYM)

Injury – He suffered a partially torn UCL in his right elbow late in the 2013 season and underwent Tommy John surgery. 

2014 Season – Harvey missed the entire 2014 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.  He was aggressive in his rehab and determined to return by the end of the season, but the Mets would not allow him to pitch in a big league game. 

Reason For Optimism

  • Harvey will only be 26-years old by Opening Day and has youth on his side when it comes to recovering from a major surgery like this.
  • He is one of the most focused and mature young pitchers in baseball, so he can make any necessary adjustments to keep himself healthy.
  • The Mets have surrounded him with one of the best starting rotations in the league, so he will not have all the pressure squarely on his shoulders.
  • In his first 36 big league starts, Harvey has a sparkling 2.39 ERA along with an average of 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Reason For Concern

  • Tommy John surgery is a major operation and there is significant risk of reinjuring his elbow.
  • The Mets will be very conservative with him which may limit his statistical output.
  • Harvey is one of the most competitive players in the league and may push himself too hard and too fast.

2015 OUTLOOK – It was just two years ago that Harvey set the fantasy baseball world on fire with an incredible first half of 2013 and found himself as the National League’s starting pitcher in the All Star Game at Citi Field.  He has all the talent and tools to be a top ten fantasy pitcher, but the Tommy John  surgery will diminish his value heading into draft season.  He is on a regular throwing program and should have a normal spring training, which is good news.  But it is no secret that the Mets will want to limit his innings in 2015 which means he will occasionally have his starts skipped or be given extra rest.  In fact, according to manager Terry Collins, Harvey likely won’t make his debut until the Mets first home game scheduled for April 13.  He is not your typical young pitcher because he has a veteran’s mentality and is wise beyond his years.  There will be some risk associated with him, but draft Harvey with the confidence that he will remain healthy but also with tempered expectations about his overall statistical output.

If you are wondering the best way to evaluate players such as Harvey so that you can be prepared for your draft, then be sure to find out how to get your free copy of the incredible 2015 Fantasy Alarm Baseball Draft Guide.

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),