Harvey happy with how recovery is going

BOSTON -- Just a few weeks before Spring Training starts, Mets right-hander Matt Harvey is all too aware that he'll be on a different schedule than his teammates when pitchers and catchers report. However, Harvey continues to be enthused by his progress from Tommy John surgery.

"It's great. I think I'm just over three months out, and I can't believe it's gone by so fast," said Harvey, who underwent the surgery in October. "Everything is going well. I haven't had the slightest setback. I'm itching to get back out and pick up a baseball again. Whatever the doc says, I've got to follow those rules."

Harvey, who is from New London, Conn., got a break from the monotony of rehab on Thursday and was honored at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner as the New England Player of the Year.

Before he was shut down for surgery, Harvey had a brilliant season, going 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 starts. There were comparisons to every Mets pitching great from Tom Seaver to Dwight Gooden.

When does Harvey hope to throw his next pitch for the Mets?

"I'd like right now," quipped Harvey. "That's not possible. I'd like to shoot for being out there in September. Obviously I don't make those decisions. I can only prepare to the best of my ability and make sure I'm in good strength and flexibility, and when they do let me go, I'm good to go."

These days, the little things buoy Harvey.

"I think I get to start the plyometrics pretty soon, which would be actually kind of throwing something but in a training room, which is exciting," said Harvey. "Obviously this has been the longest time I haven't been able to throw anything. At this point, I've switched over from doing my normal five-pound weights to a little bit heavier weight. That's always good as an athlete. You get happy when you see the weight start to creep up. Everything feels great and I'm excited to shoot down to Spring Training."

Harvey plans on reporting to camp on time, along with the rest of his teammates.

"I think so. I really haven't talked to [general manager] Sandy [Alderson] or [chief operating officer] Jeff [Wilpon] or anybody quite yet, but that's what I plan on doing," Harvey said. "Getting down there while throwing time is approaching is probably a good decision."

Harvey knows there will probably be some awkward feelings along the way.

"It's going to be a new experience. It is what it is," Harvey said. "You have to keep your head down and do everything to prepare and to stay healthy and make sure something like this doesn't happen again, and that I can get out and compete and soon enough be back with those guys."

The righty is excited about his team's big new addition in the outfield.

"I think that was one of the first things I said when we signed [Curtis] Granderson. Man, I wish I was going to be in the locker room with him and having him be in the lineup [with me], but it will be fun to watch," Harvey said. "I'm definitely looking forward to Spring Training and seeing everybody bond and mesh together, and I'm excited to see what [Travis] d'Arnaud and [Zack] Wheeler and younger guys that will step in and have a lot more impact this year. I think it's going to be really fun to watch, and I'm looking forward to getting back and joining all those guys."