Matt Harvey strikes out 11 in major league debut - MLB

The Mets weren’t entirely sure Matt Harvey was ready, but the 2010 first-round pick sure looked the part in his debut Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

While pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Harvey became just the 13th pitcher in major league history to strike out at least 11 batters in his debut. He allowed three hits and walked three on his way to getting the victory in the Mets’ 3-1 win.

The major league record of strikeouts in a debut is 15, established by the Dodgers’ Karl Spooner in 1954 and matched by the Astros’ J.R. Richard in 1971. Stephen Strasburg fanned 14 in his first start two years ago. Besides Strasburg, the most recent pitcher to strike out at least 11 batters in his debut was Oakland’s Tim Hudson in 1999.

Harvey definitely seemed amped up tonight, throwing 95-98 mph instead of his usual 93-96 mph. He wasn’t flawless when it came to command, but Diamondbacks hitters were swinging right through his fastball and slider. It looks like he’ll be a force to be reckoned with, perhaps in the batter’s box as well. He doubled and singled in his only two at-bats tonight.

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”