Orioles' Matt Harvey Suspended 60 Games for Distributing Prohibited Drug of Abuse

Right-handed pitcher Matt Harvey, who is currently signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a minor-league deal, has been suspended 60 games without pay for participating in the distribution of a prohibited drug of abuse.

The start date for Harvey was April 29, 2022.

Harvey admitted in the United States v. Eric Kay case that he provided the drugs that led to the death of Tyler Skaggs.

The jury found Eric Kay guilty of distributing the drug that led to Skaggs' death.

The federal government granted Harvey immunity in exchange for testifying.

He said that he gave Skaggs six or seven Percocet but that Kay gave Skaggs more drugs.

Harvey can appeal the suspension.

The former New York Mets pitcher is in Baltimore. The general manager of O's told Dan Connolly that Harvey was progressing well on April 27.

Dan Connolly @danconnolly2016

Matt Harvey will pitch again tomorrow in extended spring in Sarasota, working his way to an affiliate. Elias said his stuff and velocity has looked good. He's not commenting on whether Harvey will be looking at a MLB suspension, but said he'll have a progression in the minors.

The Orioles signed Harvey on April 8. The situation was called a very unique one by Elias and Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Sun.

"Obviously, he's in the situation he's in right now because of off-the-field things. But getting to know him last year, understanding his approach to what's gone on, our point of view is that this was something that shouldn't prevent him from having another chance with this organization, especially with the way he conducted himself last year."

For any time spent in the big leagues, Harvey will get a $1 million salary. He pitched for the Orioles last year and went 6-14 with a 6.27 ERA. He thinks he can help the team.

"He did a lot to help us last year. The innings that he threw, the luck that he had, and I think most importantly for us, the pro and the teammate that he was in helping us get through a very difficult season was something that we wanted back. We feel he might provide us depth and he might be able to help us and he was in the process of kind of unlocking some things, coming off an injury."

Harvey has pitched in nine MLB seasons with the Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Angels, Kansas City Royals and Orioles. He started the All-Star Game for the Mets in 2013 and helped lead the team to the NL Championship in 2015.