PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Harvey’s presence was hard to miss yesterday during the Mets’ first live batting practice session of the spring.
Though the righty fireballer wasn’t unleashing his best fastball, he kept the Mets off balance enough to earn a salute from Ike Davis, who was overmatched by a Harvey slider.
“His mechanics are real smooth,” Davis said. “I’d like to see him when he’s in a game, throwing 97 [mph] like he can. With that movement it would be pretty nasty.”
Harvey, the team’s top draft choice in 2010, likely is not competing for a spot on the major league roster, but will be watched closely this spring as the Mets try to assess his growth. Harvey progressed from Single-A to Double-A last season.
“I truly believe in the process,” manager Terry Collins said. “There’s a fine line of making sure you don’t put somebody in a position where they’re going to fail, so we’re going to let him pitch and as we go along we’ll make decisions we believe will be best for him.”
* The Mets will wear a patch this season honoring Gary Carter. Principal owner Fred Wilpon presented the patch — which features the catcher’s No. 8 and home plate — to Carter’s widow, Sandy, during a memorial service Friday for the Hall of Famer. Carter, who died 10 days ago, played for the Mets from 1985-89.
* Ruben Tejada was scheduled to land in Miami at 3 p.m. yesterday and arrive in town later in the afternoon, meeting the deadline for position players to report to spring training.
Collins, who is unhappy Tejada did not report early, said he plans to meet with his shortstop today and clear the air.
“I’m not going to yell and scream at Ruben Tejada,” Collins said.
* The Mets were unimpressed by Scott Kazmir’s audition Friday in Houston, making a reunion seem unlikely.
Kazmir, a former top pitching prospect whom the Mets infamously traded as part of the Victor Zambrano deal with Tampa Bay in 2004, is attempting a comeback after being released by the Angels last year. “He’s not ready,” a Mets official said.
* Johan Santana is scheduled to throw from a mound today — with an added wrinkle. He will throw several pitches and then sit down to simulate the rest period between innings. The Mets are hopeful Santana can begin facing hitters later in the week.
With Santana needing an extra day for long toss before his first Grapefruit League start, Collins plans to have Dillon Gee start the Mets’ exhibition opener against the Nationals on March 5.