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Baltimore Orioles: Hunter Harvey Health Update Is Positive

ByNick Stevens|
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 24: Hunter Harvey #56 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 24, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 24: Hunter Harvey #56 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 24, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)

We finally have more information about Hunter Harvey’s health. He should return to the mound for the Baltimore Orioles soon.

After six years of repeated injuries, surgeries, and setbacks, any mention of even the slightest bit of discomfort for Baltimore Orioles pitcher Hunter Harvey can lead fans into thinking of the worst case scenario. It’s hard not to have an initial moment of panic knowing that in between his outings on the mound Harvey is not placed in bubble wrap.

Before Wednesday night’s contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB.com’s Joe Trezza released some updates on Harvey, straight from Hunter Harvey himself. Good news, Orioles fans, Harvey will be back in a few days.

According to Trezza, Harvey stated that it’s bicep soreness that has kept him out of action since September 2nd when he struck out the lone hitter he faced against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 24-year-old reliever could return as soon as this weekend when Baltimore travels to Detroit to take on the Tigers for four games.

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For those who are hoping the Orioles land the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, this upcoming four-game set in Detroit is likely to give one team the inside track on that race.

If Harvey does return this weekend and you’re worried he may help the Orioles win a game or two ( I get wanting the top overall pick but it feels weird to root for this team to lose against a terrible Tigers team), Harvey likely won’t see much action.

Trezza also released the once unknown magic number of innings left for Harvey this season, which is down to eight. Between his time in Bowie, Norfolk, and Baltimore, Harvey has logged 81 innings this season. If Harvey does get eight more innings, that would put him at 89 on the year, more than any other season in his career.

Harvey’s highest inning total is 87.2, a mark he hit back in 2014 with the Delmarva Shorebirds. It was his first full season as a professional pitcher. From 2015-2018, the former first-round pick logged just 62.3 innings.

There have been many positive storylines coming out of Birdland this season and Hunter Harvey’s healthy 2019 campaign is certainly one of those. Heading into 2020, the question is whether or not Baltimore attempts to work Harvey as a starting pitcher again, or not. In my opinion, there are plenty of starting pitching prospects working their way up through the pipeline, so let’s keep Harvey’s electric arm in the bullpen. It’s nice to have a reliable option take the mound late in games.

No matter what role Harvey plays next season, for the love of all that is glorious, keep that mullet!

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