The Mets are done with the Dark Knight.
Matt Harvey was designated for assignment Friday and, after refusing to take a minor league assignment, an era has ended in Flushing.
Harvey may have been boorish, but he was never boring. Here are some of the former star pitcher’s highs and lows during his dramatic time in New York:
Highs
Debut, July 26, 2012
Harvey makes his big league debut with a 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks, and it’s an impressive one. He allows just three hits and strikes out 11 in 5 ¹/₃ scoreless innings, and even has two hits of his own.
Dubbed the Dark Knight, May 20, 2013
Sports Illustrated dubs Harvey The Dark Knight of Gotham. Appearing in ESPN The Magazine’s body issue two months later draws notice, but this is where his Dark Knight persona started, leading him to have it carved into the knobs of his bats in 2015 and eventually replacing it with his own personalized hybrid Harvey-Batman logo.
All-Star Start, July 16, 2013
Harvey, on top of the baseball world, starts the All-Star Game at Citi Field for the National League. He is just the third Mets pitcher ever given that honor, and he tosses two scoreless frames in his home park.
The Comeback, Nov. 5, 2015
Pitching for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Harvey throws six scoreless innings in Washington. He went on to win the NL Comeback Player of the Year. In his first season back from Tommy John surgery, he goes 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA.
The World Series Start, Nov. 1, 2015
In the midst of a great postseason — a 2-0 record with a solid 3.04 ERA — Harvey has his best stuff in Game 5 of the World Series. He shuts down the Royals for eight scoreless innings. About that ninth inning, though …
Lows
Tommy John Standoff, Oct. 22, 2013
After a great second season, Harvey undergoes Tommy John surgery. In March 2014, he vows to return that year, but the team decides to hold him out until the following season. Then, in September 2015, agent Scott Boras goes public with concerns over the team’s plans for his client to exceed 180 innings pitched. Harvey threw 216 innings on the season, including the postseason.
Tardy Trouble, Oct. 6, 2015
Harvey misses a team workout before the Mets’ National League Division Series after arriving at Citi Field late. He claims he was stuck in traffic.
World Series Finish, Nov. 1, 2015
Harvey’s World Series Game 5 outing starts as a high, with eight shutout frames. But after telling Terry Collins he wasn’t leaving the game and bullying the manager into leaving him in for the ninth, he coughs up two runs and the Mets lose 7-2 in 12 innings to end their season.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, July 18, 2016
Surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome not only ends Harvey’s season, but has derailed his career. After never having an ERA above 2.73 before the surgery, he has posted ERAs of 4.86, 6.70 and 7.00 the past three years.
Outright AWOL, May 6, 2017
Harvey is suspended three games without pay for violating team rules. After seeing girlfriend Adriana Lima at a Rihanna party with NFL receiver Julian Edelman, Harvey becomes an emotional wreck and doesn’t show up for a game, citing migraine issues.
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