PORT ST. LUCIE —- Reality smacked Matt Harvey in the face Sunday.
Upon arriving at the Mets spring training complex for a team physical, the ace right-hander soaked in his surroundings and realized the party will go on without him.
“It’s a little bit difficult of a day,” Harvey said. “It’s hard seeing all the guys, seeing them put their uniforms on and realizing that spring training is going to go a little bit differently this year. Today has definitely been a little bit of a struggle, but hopefully we get back out there soon.”
Harvey, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22 and is expected to miss the entire 2014 season, said he’s received no indication from the Mets when he can begin playing catch.
Though he would like to be in position for a September return, Harvey also isn’t going to obsess over something beyond his control.
“I have come to the realization that I have to listen to them and I can’t push too much,” Harvey said. “There’s going to be a time when I can do that and that will probably be later down the road, but right now I’ve got to take things slow and do what they say and just make sure that we have no setbacks.”
With Harvey sidelined, the Mets signed Bartolo Colon to a two-year contract worth $20 million to fill the rotation spot. Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee are the other components of the rotation, with the fifth spot up for grabs – Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lannan and Jenrry Mejia are the main candidates.
Harvey went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 starts for the Mets last season and was the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star game at Citi Field. Now he will have to adjust to the role of spectator.
“I’d really like to be around [the young players] and learn, especially learn from Travis [d’Arnaud] and be able to help them with things that have been successful for me in the past,” Harvey said. “The more time I can spend with them and the team, then I think I can contribute in certain ways.”
The righty said he has no regrets he waited almost two months to have the Tommy John surgery, after receiving the diagnosis of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in August. Harvey’s initial hope was he could rehab the elbow without needing surgery.
“I needed that time to make a decision and make sure that was the right one and the one I wanted to go with,” Harvey said. “I’m happy I did things on my own time and mentally moving forward that was a big thing for me to do.”