JUPITER, Fla. — Mets manager Terry Collins told young prospect Matt Harvey at the beginning of spring training that unless one of the starting pitchers got hurt, the right-hander would start the season in the minors.
But when Harvey found out yesterday he was being reassigned to minor league camp, he still wasn’t pleased.
“I’m not happy about it, but I’m gonna go out there — wherever I am — and do the best I can until I get to the level I want to be at,” Harvey said at the team’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie. “No matter how much I wanted to try and prove that I could [do it], in the long run, it’s never gonna be my call.”
Asked if he thought he was major league ready now, he replied: “I’d like to think so.”
Collins disagreed, but not by much.
“I think he’s real close, but he’s got to refine some stuff,” said Collins. “So is [Jeurys] Familia.”
Collins said he expected Harvey to make at least one more start with the major league team. Because he is not on the 40-man roster, he can be borrowed from the minor league side.
Familia was optioned to the minors yesterday, along with Jenrry Mejia, Armando Rodriguez, Josh Stinson, Robert Carson, Wilmer Flores, Reese Havens, Juan Lagares, Kirk Nieuwenheis. Matt den Dekker also was reassigned to minor league camp.
The 22-year-old Harvey was the team’s first-round pick in 2010 out of North Carolina and finished last season with Double-A Binghamton.
“You’re allowed to be [ticked] off for 24 hours,” Collins said. “Then you have to get back to work.”
Collins wouldn’t rule out a Harvey appearance in the majors if someone in the rotation suffered an injury.
“Who knows what could happen before April 5?” Collins said. “He’s got to pitch better than everyone down there.”
* Collins was ejected in the top of the eighth yesterday for arguing a batter’s interference call against Jordany Valdespin in yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Marlins. … Jason Bay didn’t read too much into going 2-for-2 against Josh Johnson. “Obviously, with the way things have gone, I’m not taking this any differently,” said Bay, who doubled to right-center off Johnson in the third. “For me, it’s just been timing, trying to catch up. I’m getting there.” … Collins said Ronny Cedeno [knee tendinitis] and Ruben Tejada [strained groin] would be available today, but neither is expected to play.