Heyman: Mets' Harvey Appears To Be Against Elbow Surgery -- For Now
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It appears Matt Harvey has made his decision regarding his elbow injury.
It's hard to say what the fans will think about it.
According to CBSSports.com/WFAN Insider Jon Heyman, the Mets' star right-hander visited with renowned sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday and apparently came away from the meeting confident he can rehab his injured right elbow for the time being.
Harvey, who went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 178 1/3 innings before being shut down for the season in late August with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, may begin throwing in one to two months, Heyman reported.
The surgery option will remain on the table depending on how rehab workouts go, Heyman reported.
The Mets' doctors initially diagnosed Harvey, and many figured that rather than living with the possibility of his elbow blowing out at any time, he would opt for Tommy John surgery. However, there have been examples in the past of pitchers who have been able to pitch with the injury, Heyman reported.
Tommy John surgery is seen as up to 90 percent effective with ligament tears in the elbow, but since the procedure isn't 100 percent and would surely keep him out the entire 2014 season, Harvey has been said to be hoping to avoid surgery. He also spoke to Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay shortly after his diagnosis. Halladay was a rare pitcher to avoid the surgery after a similar diagnosis.
Andrews' findings were not immediately known.
If Harvey does choose to have the surgery in the future, he could be ready for 2015, depending on when he actually has the procedure done.
The Mets were expected to speak on Harvey's situation at some point on Tuesday.
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