Hunter Harvey leaves start with sore forearm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pitcher Hunter Harvey, the top prospect in the Orioles system, left tonight's start with short-season Single-A Aberdeen with soreness in his right flexor mass.

Harvey lasted 1 1/3 innings and threw 23 pitches at Batavia before walking off the mound with the IronBirds athletic trainer. He walked one batter and struck out one.

Harvey has been pitching in the New York-Penn League after undergoing sports hernia surgery in May. He moved up from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and was making his fifth start tonight, his third with Aberdeen.

This isn't a new injury for Harvey. It's just the latest.

The 22nd overall pick in 2013 was shut down at Single-A Delmarva in late July 2014 with a strained right flexor mass. He missed the 2015 season after fracturing his shin on a comebacker during a spring training game in Fort Myers and later experiencing soreness in his elbow. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection in May, but was shut down again in the fall instructional league.

Harvey reported no discomfort in his arm at the January minicamp this year and in spring training, but he sustained a groin injury at Twin Lakes Park and aggravated it later, which led to sports hernia surgery after Philadelphia-based specialist Dr. William Meyer discovered a small tear.

The Orioles are expected to provide an update on Harvey before Sunday's series finale against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Harvey, 21, is the son of former major league closer Bryan Harvey. He's 7-7 with a 2.82 ERA in 29 career starts in the minors.

The Orioles view Harvey as a pitcher who could move up quickly through their system. He just can't seem to get started, and tonight marks another setback.