Years of arm injuries behind him, Harvey reached the Majors in 2019 after transitioning into a relief role and immediately looked like a fixture in the back end of Baltimore’s bullpen. Now the challenge for the 25-year-old will be staying healthy after a year during which he logged 82 innings across four levels, his largest workload since 2014.
That has always been the issue for the former first round pick, whom the Orioles selected 22nd overall in 2013. Harvey showed immense promise the next year during his full-season debut, which included a Futures Game selection at age 19. Then injuries began cutting in: Elbow issues cost Harvey part of 2014 and all of ’15 before he ultimately required Tommy John surgery in June ‘16, and shoulder woes limited him to nine starts in 2018. All told, Harvey logged just 63 2/3 total innings from 2015-18.
Healthy again in 2019, Harvey began the season in Double-A Bowie’s rotation but had been officially moved to a bullpen role by mid-June. Once considered to have top-of-the-rotation upside, Harvey’s long-term future now profiles in the back-end of the bullpen. The reason why is obvious. Harvey continues to show dynamic stuff when healthy. As a starter, his fastball sat 92-95 mph and reached 96-97; as a reliever, it averaged 98.3 mph and sniffed triple digits. He pairs his heater with a plus curveball that he throws with tight spin and considerable depth to create late downward action, and a power split-change that he throws in the upper eighties. He could get closing opportunities in 2020.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
The Orioles' first-round pick in 2013, Harvey showed immense promise the next year during his full-season debut, which included a Futures Game selection at age 19. However, injuries have since derailed Harvey's progress, limiting the right-hander to just 63 2/3 total innings since 2015. Elbow issues cost him part of 2014 and all of '15 before he ultimately required Tommy John surgery in June '16. When he returned to the mound in July 2017, Harvey looked like his old self while making eight starts across three levels, and the Orioles added him to their 40-man roster after the season. An impressive showing in Spring Training offered hope that 2018 might be the year Harvey would stay healthy and put it all together, but he made just eight starts at Double-A Bowie before a sore shoulder landed him on the disabled list in June, effectively ending his season. Healthy again in 2019, Harvey began the season in Double-A Bowie's rotation but had been officially moved into a bullpen role by mid-June.
Harvey continues to show dynamic stuff in the rare instances he's healthy. His fastball will sit in the 92-95 mph range and reaches 96-97, thrown with good angle from a relatively smooth delivery. He pairs his heater with a plus curveball that he throws with tight spin and considerable depth to create late downward action. Harvey's changeup gives him another quality offering, though his time on the shelf has impacted its development.
Harvey has No. 3-starter upside based on his raw stuff, though it will be difficult for him to reach his ceiling (or anything close to it) if he can't stay on the field. Entering his age-24 season in 2019, Harvey's clearest path to the Majors likely is as a reliever, and there's little doubt that he could be effective in a late-inning role with his two plus pitches.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
The son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey, Hunter showed all the components of a top-flight pitching prospect during his 2014 full-season debut, so much so that he earned a spot on the U.S. Team's roster in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at age 19, roughly one year after Baltimore selected him with the 22nd overall pick. Elbow issues would subsequently derail Harvey's progress, however, costing him part of 2014 and all of '15 before he ultimately required Tommy John surgery in June '16. He finally returned to the mound in July 2017 and looked like his old self while excelling across three levels.
Owner of a fastball that sits in the 92-95 mph range and reaches 96-97, Harvey also commands the pitch to both sides of the plate thanks to a smooth delivery as well as a whippy-but-clean arm action. He pairs his heater with a plus curveball that he throws with tight spin and considerable depth to create late downer action and pile up whiffs, while Harvey's changeup gives him a third average-or-better offering.
His injury history aside, Harvey is still loaded with upside. The strength he's added in recent years to his formerly wiry frame has helped to assuage some concerns about his durability, and Orioles officials believe he's now better off physically after going through a structured strengthening and throwing program. Barring further setbacks, Harvey, now a member of Baltimore's 40-man roster, could still achieve his projection as a No. 3 starter.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 65 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
The Orioles made Harvey, the son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey, the 22nd-overall pick in 2013, and he carved up hitters in the Class A South Atlantic League during his full-season debut in 2014 at the age of 19. But Harvey was shut down with a right elbow strain later that season, and it was the same injury that sidelined him for all of 2015. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly two years in 2016 only to leave his fifth start with elbow discomfort that required Tommy John surgery. Harvey has since worked is way back from the injury, and he logged his first affiliated game action in over a year in July.
When healthy, Harvey has a three-pitch mix to miss a lot of bats. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 94-96 mph consistently, and he commands the pitch to both sides of the plate thanks to a smooth delivery as well as loose, clean arm action. His curveball is a legitimate out pitch with plus-plus potential, thrown with tight spin and considerable depth, and he shows the makings of an average changeup. Meanwhile, his average control and command allows his entire arsenal to play up.
The Orioles' primary objective is to make sure the right-hander has a normal, healthy offseason. Still just 22, Harvey has time on his side, and club officials believe he's now better off physically after going through a structured strengthening and throwing program.
The son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey, Hunter Harvey carved up hitters in the Class A South Atlantic League during his full-season debut in 2014, leading to his selection to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at the age of 19. Shortly there after, however, the right-hander was shut down with a right elbow strain, and it was the same injury that caused him to miss the entire 2015 season. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly two years in 2016 only to leave his fifth start with elbow discomfort, and it was announced in late July that the right-hander would need Tommy John surgery.
When healthy, Harvey has a three-pitch mix to miss a lot of bats. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 94-95 mph consistently, and his loose, clean arm action helps him to command it to both sides of the plate. His curveball is a legitimate out-pitch with plus-plus potential, thrown with tight spin and considerable depth, and he shows the makings of an average changeup.
The news that Harvey needs surgery is yet another crushing blow for the right-hander, who has logged just 125 2/3 innings since the Orioles took him in the first round of the 2013 Draft. At 21, Harvey still has time on his side, though he's unlikely to be back on the mound before the 2018 season.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55
The son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey, Hunter Harvey signed quickly out of the North Carolina high school ranks and was dominant during his first full season in 2014, being named a South Atlantic League All-Star and pitching in the Futures Game, His strong debut was marred only by a strained flexor mass in his right elbow that ended his year in late July. A fibula fracture kept him off the field in 2015, then a repeat of the flexor mass in his elbow set him back even further.
When healthy, Harvey has a three-pitch mix to miss a lot of bats. His fastball sits in the low-90s and touches 94-95 mph consistently. He commands it well, moving it in and out as needed. He complements the heater with a tight curve ball that has a lot of depth to it and could give him a second plus pitch when all is said and done. His changeup, while clearly his third pitch, has the chance to be at least Major League average, thrown with deception and fade.
The first order of business is to get Harvey healthy. If he can stay away from the DL, he has everything a team is looking for in a frontline starter.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 60
Harvey, the son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey, was eager to get his professional career started -- so much so that he never committed to a college. He quickly signed with the Orioles after the 2013 Draft. That has looked to be a smart decision, as Harvey has dominated professional hitters, and he earned a trip to the 2014 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Harvey throws his fastball in the low- to mid-90s, and he has the projectability to more consistently hit the upper end of that range in the future. He has a good feel for his curveball, and though he didn't need it much in high school, his changeup has the makings of a third quality pitch.
Harvey has a good understanding of pitching, and he earns praise for his poise on the mound. His development in his first year has given Baltimore another premium starting pitching prospect. But Harvey's progress was slowed when an MRI revealed he had a strained flexor mass in his right elbow, ending his 2014 season a month early.
Scouting grades (present/future): Fastball: 50/60 | Curve: 40/50 | Changeup: 40/50 | Control: 40/50 | Overall: 40/50
Harvey was one of the most signable high school arms in the 2013 Draft class as he and father Bryan Harvey, the former All-Star closer, made it very clear that he wanted to begin his pro career. He signed for pick value with the Orioles and is ready to use his projectable frame and stuff to move up the organizational ladder. Harvey has an above-average fastball that touches 94 mph and there could be more in the future as he adds strength. His curve and changeup, while not quite as advanced as his fastball, both have the chance to be at least Major League average in the future. His upside combined with his Major League bloodlines should have the Orioles excited to see what he can do.
