Matt Harvey of the New York Mets named National League Player of the Week

New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending April 14th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Harvey went 2-0 in two starts last week with a 1.20 ERA in an N.L.-high 15.0 innings while tying for the N.L. lead in strikeouts with 15. He allowed just five hits during the week while walking four. The hard-throwing right-hander improved his record to a perfect 3-0 this year, becoming the first pitcher in modern Major League history (since 1900) to win each of his first three starts to commence a season while compiling at least 25 strikeouts and allowing a total of six hits-or-fewer in those outings (Elias Sports Bureau). On Saturday, the 24-year-old tossed a career-high 8.0 innings en route to a 4-2 Mets victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Harvey held the Twins hitless through 6.2 innings before giving up a solo home run to slugger Justin Morneau in the seventh frame. It proved to be the only hiccup for the young phenom, who ended the day with just one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts. In his April 8th start at Philadelphia, Harvey was similarly effective, holding the N.L. Eastrival Phillies to just one run on three hits while fanning nine in 7.0 innings of work to earn the win in a 7-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park. The Connecticut native threw 110 pitches in the outing (66 strikes) as he out-performed Phils ace Roy Halladay for the decision. The University of North Carolina product, who was the Mets first round selection (seventh overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, has amassed 95 strikeouts through his first 13 starts-the third-highest total through that many starts in Mets franchise history behind Nolan Ryan (103) and Dwight Gooden (96). His 25 strikeouts this year are currently tied for fourth-best in the Majors. This is his first Player of the Week honor.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Harvey's battery-mate John Buck (4 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, .810 SLG); outfielder Starling Marte (.423, 11 H, 7 R, HR, 6 RBI, .464 OBP) and closer Jason Grilli (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 SV, 5 SO, 4.0 IP) of the Pirates; first baseman Matt Adams (.625, 5 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.875 SLG) and right-hander Adam Wainwright (1-0, 0.00 ERA, CG, SHO, 9.0 IP, 12 SO) of the Cardinals; Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro (.379, 11 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .759 SLG); catcher Evan Gattis (.304, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .783 SLG), infielder Chris Johnson (.481, 13 H, 4 RBI, .481 OBP) and left-hander Paul Maholm (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 SO, 14.2 IP) of the Braves; and second baseman Marco Scutaro (.440, 11 H, 3 2B, 4 RBI, .423 OBP) and left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner (2-0, 2.92 ERA, 12.1 IP, 11 SO) of the Giants.

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Matt Harvey will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.