Groton's Matt Harvey To Make First MLB Start Thursday

Matt Harvey of Groton will make his first Major League start for the New York Mets Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Arizona, according to espn.com.

Harvey, who was born in New London, was drafted seventh overall in the 2010 MLB Amateur draft and has been a top prospect in the Mets’ system ever since. Before being drafted, he was a standout starter for the University of North Carolina and before that, Fitch High School.

Harvey, 23, is 6’4” and weighs 224 lbs. In his two seasons in the minors, Harvey is 20-10 with a 3.48 ERA and struck out 268 batters in 245 2/3 innings.

Harvey comes in to a Mets starting staff riddled with injuries. Starters Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee will both miss the rest of the season and pitcher Johan Santana was recently placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Harvey was last pitching in Triple-A Buffalo before being called up. Mets manager Terry Collins said the New York media will be excited to write about Harvey, according to espn.com.

“Part of the whole thing is being here in New York where everything is a story," Collins told espn.com. "The Matt Harveys become the story. He's not naive enough to know people are there, people are talking about it in Buffalo. You're the guy.

"You're going to the next guy. Well, he may be or he may not be. As a young guy trying to get to the big leagues you certainly understand why that focus is going in different directions right now."