Matt Harvey Player Profile: Do you think he’s a Star Wars fan?

Han Solo, smuggler. Photo courtesy of the Mos Eisley Cantina.

Is Matt Harvey – the 6’4″ right-hander for the Mets who turns 24 today – a Star Wars fan? He has to be, right? The originals, I mean, not the prequels of course. I think he’s a Star Wars fan. I mean, I want him to be a Star Wars fan.

I ask because there is also a Matt Harvey who wrote the Official Star Wars Fact File and that’s just too much of a coincidence to not be a work of The Force. In honor of this mysterious second Matt, here’s a Star Wars factoid for you from Wookieepedia: Wedge Antilles flew as Red Leader in the Battle of Endor, striking the blow that destroyed the second Death Star alongside Lando Calrissian, becoming the only pilot to survive both Death Star runs.

But back to the Matt Harvey of fantasy baseball fame. I did a call up report on Harvey last year and my advice was to wait. The wait is over, so what should we expect Matt Harvey’s fantasy value to be like in 2013? In short, he’ll be solid this season, a sub-4.00 ERA while racking up plenty of Ks. Do expect some ups and downs however, not unlike Matt Moore in 2012.

Harvey throws 4 pitches, the keystone being his fastball, which can top 97 and has good movement. He also throws a curve, but less frequently because he prefers his slider. Both pitches are a little above average, but both beat his changeup, an average pitch at best. I share this because there is some upside here as the young pitcher learns to further refine his arsenal.

Harvey often draws comparisons to Zack Wheeler, the other heralded Mets pitching prospect, known for being a chill, relaxed guy, able to go with the flow. Harvey, by comparison, can often be more impulsive and boisterous in the clubhouse, but who also takes his job of pitching very seriously. That would make Zack Wheeler the Lando to Matt Harvey’s Han Solo.

Since we mentioned it, we might as well enjoy another Star Wars factoid: Han Solo‘s blaster of choice was a modified DL-44 blaster pistol, and he was never afraid to shoot first.

Matt Harvey is a trendy sleeper this season for good reason. He’d be a safe draft pick as the 40-50th pitcher off the board in 2013, but I suspect that in 2014 we’ll be discussing if he’s in the top-25 conversation. Expect the bumps you get with most young pitchers, but he has the natural ability that’s electric, plus the personality that will work to improve his craft.

Here are his 2013 Projections and May the Force Be With You this fantasy season: