09 Jul Getting to Know…Matt Harvey

Full Name – Matthew Edward Harvey

Born –March 27, 1989 in New London, CT

Height & Weight – 6-4, 225

Nickname – Most people just call me “Harv”

Hobbies/Interests – I enjoy playing golf

Player you would pay to watch today – Chipper Jones. I know he recently retired, but was fun to watch play. He’s done it for so long and I have max respect for that.

Favorite thing to do on an off day – Go on my boat and do some fishing

Favorite Music – A little of everything, mostly old school rap music

Favorite Foods – Anything my mother is cooking that day

Car I Drive – Cadillac Escalade

Favorite City and ballpark to Visit – Washington, D.C and Nationals Park, City is beautiful, clean and so much history there from the monuments to all the Federal stuff. The park is also stunning and great place to play the game.

Influences – My father. He taught me all about this great game and how to be a leader. I hope to follow in his footsteps.

Favorite Non Baseball Sports Team – New England Patriots

Toughest Hitter Ever Faced –I haven’t faced them all, but so far it’s Yonder Alonso from the Padres. He wore me out when we played San Diego.

First Job – Worked in a pizza store, didn’t make much money

Athletes I enjoy following in another sport – Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics

Best Advise I ever got – To trust your stuff and never doubt that you aren’t good enough to play this game.

Pre-Game Ritual – Nothing Specific but I like to keep the same routine. I go to the field during BP and hang around, and then it’s into the clubhouse until game time.

Player who has helped you most – Rob Johnson. He helped me get acclimated to pitching at the big league level. He caught most of my AAA starts and was a big help to have in the majors when my career got started.

Athlete I followed growing up – Paul O’Neill, I enjoyed watching how he played the game.

If not a baseball player, I’d have been – Probably something to do with law, I’ve always enjoyed that field.

Behind my back, people say – Hopefully that I’m a good guy

Most Embarrassing Professional Moment – Last September, the veterans made the rookies dress up in crazy and embarrassing costumes during the last road trip of the season.

Any disappointments so far in your career – Any loss I experience is disappointing.

Biggest thrill and most memorable moment to date as an athlete – Has to be when I won my major league debut in Arizona against the Diamondbacks with my family there to watch it in person. For me to be able to say that I’m a big leaguer and pitch at this level is a great feeling and accomplishment.