PORT ST. LUCIE — The plan is for Matt Harvey to start the season at Double-A Binghamton. Harvey’s plan is to re-write the plan.
“The biggest goal is to get to the big leagues, whether it’s when I want to, in April, or hopefully a month or two after that,’’ the Mets’ young right-hander told The Post Thursday. “That’s my goal.’’
While all eyes have been on Johan Santana as he put another brick in the wall in his comeback from shoulder surgery, Harvey has quietly gotten off to an impressive start in camp. After Jason Bay stood in against Harvey the other day, Bay asked Terry Collins: “We’ve got five guys better than this?’’
To be clear, that was not a negative comment aimed at the Mets’ starting rotation. That was a positive comment aimed at Harvey’s stuff.
When asked to elaborate, Bay said: “I have a hard time believing that this guy can’t help us at some point and Terry was like, ‘I agree.’ He’s got electric stuff. His curve ball is impressive, when he puts his pitches in the right spots, unreal.’’
You don’t get much better than “unreal’’ when it comes to pitching reviews from hitters. When Harvey makes it to the majors he plans on staying for a long, long time.
Mets management will likely stick to the plan, but if Harvey has an eye-opening spring, anything is possible and the same goes for right-hander Jeurys Familia. The Mets want to keep the carrot of the major leagues in front of Harvey and Familia. The Mets believe both still have work to do in the minors and considering the state of the team, there is no harm in letting them develop at that managed pace, but Collins, to his credit, is keeping an open mind on the young arms.
“Ultimately, they dictate where they go,’’ Collins said. “Go pitch your way here. If [Harvey or Familia] pitch really well, we have to move you.’’
Harvey turns 23 this month. Familia is 21. Harvey stands a solid 6-foot-4, 235. The Mets should not worry one bit about expectations getting to Harvey because Harvey has the greatest expectations for himself. When I visited him last summer in A-ball, it was obvious he was the most determined person on the field.
This winter he became even more determined, working in the offseason in Atlanta and perfecting a two-seam fastball. Mets backup catcher Mike Nickeas caught Harvey during that time and was wowed by his stuff and his approach.
“He’s a very mature kid, tremendous stuff and he’s very ambitious, he has a huge desire to get up to the big leagues and stay there,’’ Nickeas said. “I was impressed with his two-seamer. I was surprised that he just started throwing it. The ball is heavy; his fastball command, so far in camp, has been very solid. He has a really good curve ball, a solid changeup and his slider is developing, but I think his curve ball is fantastic.’’
Harvey made 26 starts for Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton last year, turning in a 13-5 record with a 3.32 ERA over 135 ²/₃ innings. He struck out 156 batters while walking 47. His fastball ranges anywhere from 92 to 97.
“I’d like to get up near 200 innings this year,’’ said Harvey, the seventh pick of the 2010 draft. Getting to Double-A last year was a learning experience.
“I learned not to put so much pressure on myself from a mental approach,’’ he said of facing Double-A hitters.
Harvey said the higher the aspirations for him, the better it is.
“It’s what makes me want to be better,’’ he said. “It’s something inside that I feel I need to prove and not just for a year or two but for 15 years. That’s what keeps me going every day.’’
Those are impressive words. Matt Harvey is a keeper and you can be sure that sooner, rather than later, he will be one of five in the Mets’ rotation.