Hunter Harvey was sharp in his first game action in nearly two years on Saturday, firing two scoreless innings for the Orioles' Gulf Coast League affiliate in a win over the Rays' affiliate.
The Orioles' No. 1 prospect struck out three in the first inning en route to fanning five of the seven hitters he faced. He allowed one hit, a two-out double to Chris Betts (Rays' No. 15) -- the 2015 second-rounder's first career hit -- in the bottom of the first, and did not issue a walk.
• Complete Orioles prospects coverage at MLBPipeline.com/orioles
The last time Harvey, MLBPipeline.com's No. 76 overall prospect, took the mound was July 25, 2014, during his impressive full-season debut for Class A Delmarva. He left that start after five innings due to a strained right flex mass and spent the remainder of the season on the disabled list.
Things didn't get any better for Harvey in 2015, as he opened the season on the shelf after he suffered a fractured fibula when a comebacker struck his right ankle during an outing in Minor League camp on March 22. Then, while rehabbing at extended spring training in May, Harvey once again experienced elbow tightness, prompting the Orioles to shut him down for the next four months. He got back on the mound during fall instructional league in October only to have his elbow flare up again, though he was able to avoid surgery.
But after a healthy offseason, things were looking up for Harvey heading into the 2016 season, especially after the right-hander impressed scouts with his performance during spring Minor League camp. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit the 21-year-old again in late March, when he left an intrasquad game in the third inning with a groin strain. In early May, he was forced to undergo surgery for a sports hernia, costing him another 4-6 weeks.
Now fully healthy, Harvey, whom Baltimore selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2013 Draft, is looking to get his once promising career back on track. For now, the Orioles will manage his workload carefully, beginning with numerous short rehab assignments as he builds up arm strength.
In his Minor League career, Harvey owns a 2.86 ERA and a 144-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 115 innings (26 starts).