Hunter Harvey shut down with elbow discomfort

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey is experiencing discomfort in his right elbow and the club is arranging an examination with Dr. James Andrews, a development that could lead to surgery.

Harvey hasn't pitched this season due to a slight fracture in his shin and a strained right flexor mass. He was cleared to throw in the fall instructional league in Sarasota, but the elbow pain has caused the Orioles to shut him down.

Andrews is out of the country, which is delaying the appointment. In the meantime, the Orioles are discussing which pitcher will replace Harvey on the Arizona Fall League roster.

"I heard some more about (the injury)," said manager Buck Showalter. "We'll see what Dr. Andrews thinks."

Harvey hasn't pitched since July 2014 because of the strained flexor mass. The fractured shin occurred in March when he was hit by a comebacker while pitching in a minor league game in Fort Myers.

The elbow is a far greater concern. Dylan Bundy also had a strained flexor mass that led to Tommy John surgery, and Hunter could be following the same path.

"Any time a guy's had that much time off and did all the rehab and did everything and then has some discomfort, that's an issue," Showalter said.

Showalter didn't want to speculate on the possibility of surgery.

"We'll see," he said. "Let it run its course. I know more than I'm going to talk about here. We're hoping for a different result than what that type of thing normally makes you wonder about. It's been a long haul for him."

Harvey, who turns 21 in December, was the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. He's the son of former major league closer Bryan Harvey.

Harvey is 7-6 with 2.87 ERA in 25 starts over 113 innings in two minor league seasons. He last pitched at Single-A Delmava.

The Orioles are careful with their young pitchers, but the injuries continue to mount. The unfortunate roll call includes Bundy, older brother Bobby, Parker Bridwell and Branden Klein.

"A lot of those things guys come with," Showalter said. "It's got nothing to do with the draft or scouting or whatever. You hear me talk all the time about travel ball and how much these guys pitch in high school and whatever. Tampa has it. You try as much as you can when you get them to keep that from happening.

"It's not a normal thing to do to your arm. I think everybody tries to or professes to know the magic formula to keep them all healthy. The way to keep them all healthy is not to have them pitch.

"Somebody's got to pitch. I think the problem is the stress that they put on these kids at 14 and 15. It's almost criminal what they allow some of these (pitchers to do). The parents have to be the ones that step in. John Russell was talking about it the other day with his son (Stone). He just said he's not pitching. Well, he's our best pitcher, but he's not pitching. The growth platelets aren't closed.

"I'm not talking about Hunter. Some of it is just genetically speaking, too."

It should benefit Harvey to have his father nearby during his recovery and rehab, and he figured to be better protected at an early age. But again, Showalter doesn't want to fast-forward to any talk regarding elbow surgery.

"Let's let it run its course," he said. "You watched a guy pitch real well the other night named (Matt) Moore, and (Drew) Smyly has had shoulder stuff that he has come back from. Medical stuff is very advanced. We'll see, we'll see. He's a good one. And if something happens, he will be again.

"I just know he's not going to do anything until he sees Dr. Andrews again."