(New York) Matt Harvey announced Friday that he is ending his career after nine years in the Majors.
Harvey, dubbed the “Dark Knight” during his years with the New York Mets, made the announcement on social media. He had seen his star fade in recent years due to injuries and a suspension for distributing recreational drugs.
He was the Mets’ seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft and quickly rose to the Majors in 2012. He started the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field, but a month later he tore a ligament in his right elbow, requiring total ligament reconstruction.
Harvey returned to action in 2015 and went 13-8, helping the Mets reach the World Series, where they lost to the Kansas City Royals.
He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in May 2018, pitched to the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, the Royals in 2020 and the Baltimore Orioles in 2021. Health issues, then his suspension, when he won a minor league contract from the Orioles in last year, prevented it from regaining its past glory.
Last year, he testified in the trial of former Angels employee Eric Kay, who was found guilty of supplying the drugs to pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died of an overdose in July 2019.
Harvey is one of four players who have admitted to receiving oxycodone pills from Kay, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison in October 2022.
Harvey, who said at trial that he believed his testimony would cost him his career, also told the court that he and his teammates gave or supplied drugs to other players.
MLB suspended Harvey for 60 games in 2022. He never returned to the Majors after that.
He locks in his glove with a 50-66 record and an ERA in nine seasons. He pitched for the Italy team in the last World Classic. he allowed one run on four hits in two starts.
