O's Brian Graham with a Hunter Harvey update (Sale to Boston)

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Since the middle of the 2014 season, Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey has thrown 12 2/3 innings. Despite that, the Orioles can envision a day when he is pitching at or near the top of their rotation. It is just going to take a while.

Harvey was shut down late in July 2014 with a strained right flexor mass. The next year began with a shin injury in spring and later more elbow issues. In May, he underwent sports hernia surgery. And finally, on July 26 he had Tommy John surgery. Now the long road back is underway for Harvey yet again.

The Orioles' 2013 first-round pick (No. 22 overall) is getting close to resuming some light throwing, but O's director of player development Brian Graham said here today he may not pitch in many minor league games during the 2017 season. The O's are pointing toward the 2017 Arizona Fall League for a full return.

"He's doing great," Graham said of Harvey. " I spoke to him yesterday. He will start his throwing program at five months (out of surgery). He's a little over four months at this point. He's in great shape doing his conditioning and weight training and real soon he'll start throwing.

"I think at some point during the season he'll pitch. If he could, at the end of the season, be part of the Arizona Fall League, something like that, that would be great. He was throwing the ball as good as I've seen him pitch in a long time just before he got injured. It's in there. He's going to be special."

Harvey went 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts for Single-A Delmarva in 2014 and a promising career was underway. But he pitched in just five games this year between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season Single-A Aberdeen before he was shut down again. The surgery followed.

Will Harvey pitch some next season before the AFL?

"I don't think it is that important," Graham said. "If he just pitched a couple of games, that really doesn't create an advantage for him. Maybe the fall league and then be ready for the next season (in 2018). We're going to have a special pitcher when he gets healthy."

Harvey has someone close by to give him all the advice he needs about the Tommy John recovery. That is O's right-hander Dylan Bundy, who had TJ surgery on June 27, 2013.

"They talk frequently," Graham said. "I think when you look at what Dave Walker, our training medical coordinator did with Dylan Bundy to get him back healthy and what he is doing with Hunter Harvey, Dave deserves a lot of credit.

"Dylan, phenomenal coming back and the timing that Buck used to get Dylan into the rotation. Just knowing that Harvey is on the same program gives you a lot of confidence."

We shot a video interview with Graham and addressed several other topics. Check back later for the full interview.

Sale to Boston: The rumors were that the Nationals were close to getting Chris Sale. But in the end, Boston got the ace left-hander and the Orioles' job in the rugged American League East just got tougher.

Sale is the tall lefty with dominant stuff and stats to match. He has three years of a club control at a combined $38 million. That makes him a complete bargain in the salary department. Arizona's Zack Greinke's deal averages $34 million for one season.

Sale is 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 career games versus the Orioles. He is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in seven career games at Camden Yards. His addition could make 2016 AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello only the third-best pitcher on his own team behind Sale and David Price. Sale has finished sixth or better in the Cy Young voting the last five years.