Hunter Harvey talks about his Sunday outing, provides health update

SARASOTA, Fla. - In his brief pro career, and certainly as an amateur pitcher, right-hander Hunter Harvey must not have had too many days like Sunday.

Pitching in Fort Myers against the Minnesota Twins, the 21-year-old right-hander allowed three hits, two walks, threw a wild pitch and gave up five runs in just 1/3 of an inning. Two runs scored after Jason Garcia replaced him.

This morning, Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced that Harvey has been reassigned to minor league camp. Not because he gave up runs Sunday, but just to get his innings in and get ready for the start of the minor league season. He was always headed to minor league camp, it was just a matter of when.

The headline here is that Harvey is healthy. He has not pitched in a minor league game since July 2014. A strained right flexor mass has kept him out of games in addition to a shin injury that happened when he was hit by a batted ball last March.

After Sunday's game, Showalter said Harvey was simply out of whack with his mechanics and expressed no concern with his outing or outlook for this year. In fact, quite the opposite.

"He's going to be fine. Hunter is going to be fine. He's a good one and we're lucky to have him," Showalter said.

This morning, Harvey echoed Showalter's words about his rough outing.

"Nobody wants to have outings like that. Especially when you are trying to do good to impress these guys. It gets frustrating but I can't let it get to me," Harvey said.

"Last two games, I have felt a little out of synch," Harvey said. "Yesterday, it was a little bit worse. I just didn't have my command like I normally do. That happens. I don't think it is anything too major. Just a couple of things. Nothing a side (session) or two can't fix. Nothing to hang my head over."

Harvey came in to start the last of the sixth at Hammond Stadium. He walked Byron Buxton, then a single that put runners on the corners and wild pitch followed. It didn't get better after that.

"I could just tell something didn't quite feel right," he said. "It was weird. I tried to battle through it, but couldn't find what I was looking for. I tried to make a few little adjustments out there."

Harvey can certainly add this to a list of learning experiences for a young pitcher. Eventually, even the best ones go through times where their mechanics get out of whack in a game. They can't call a timeout to regroup.

"Can you imagine having that type of arm and good stuff and an assortment of pitches and not be able to get to it?" Showalter said of Harvey's Sunday struggles. It is clear the skipper is a fan of Harvey and his considerable talents.

Harvey had allowed just one run in 2 1/3 innings in games against the Rays and Twins before his outing on Sunday.

Harvey is excited for what he hopes will be an injury-free season. The Orioles' 2013 first-round draft pick is 7-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 25 career minor league games. Now he heads to minor league camp to build up his innings count and get ready for his season.

"I feel great. It is nice to finally not have any pain" Harvey said. "That has been really good. I feel like it's behind me now."