Harvey working hard to return to Royals - 6/16/2006
 

Harvey working hard to return to Royals
JEFFREY FLANAGAN
The Kansas City Star

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Hey, Royals fans, remember Ken Harvey?

The one-time Royals prospect who led the nation in hitting at Nebraska and won a couple of batting titles in the minors, and was the Royals’ lone All-Star in 2004?

Well, Harvey is in Arizona these days, rehabbing after successful surgery last December to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. If all goes well, Harvey hopes to be in Omaha by the middle of next month.

“I’m doing all the activities I did before the surgery,” Harvey said by phone. “I’m playing first base, hitting in the cage, all of that. The big thing is to make sure I’m not rushing it. I want to get to the point where I can do everything for three or four days and not feel any pain.

“I’m not quite there, but I’m getting close.”

After being a huge part of the enjoyable 2003 Royals ride — Harvey hit .266 that year with 13 homers and 64 RBIs and delivered numerous clutch hits — Harvey is still holding out hope that he fits into the Royals’ plans.

“I feel like I do or I wouldn’t be going through all this,” he said. “And I think the Royals must or they wouldn’t be paying me to do all the rehab. My goal is to get to Omaha next month, show that I can still play, play in winter ball, and then play a whole season next year. I know I can still play this game.”

The Royals have a few options at first base for the future, including Justin Huber and possibly Alex Gordon. Harvey said he hasn’t spoken to Royals management recently about his own future.

“With the changes made (at general manager), I think they’ve got some other priorities right now,” he said. “I hope to talk to (Dayton Moore) once I get back up and playing at Omaha.”

Harvey said the injury has not hurt his hitting stroke.

“The ball is still jumping off the bat like it used to,” he said. “The ball is still going where it’s supposed to.”

Nussbeck honored

Kansas City native Mark Nussbeck was chosen pitcher of the week for the independent American Association’s St. Joseph’s Blacksnakes.

Nussbeck, a graduate of O’Hara High School in Kansas City who was drafted in the 29th round by the Cardinals in 1996, pitched 10 years in the minor leagues in the Cardinals and Orioles organizations. Last season he split time between Memphis and Springfield in the Cardinals’ organization.

Nussbeck has not allowed an earned run in his last 17 innings and leads the American Association with a 0.78 ERA.

Use your head

Former Chief Joe Montana on Sporting News Radio on Ben Roethlisberger’s motorcycle injury: “You (want to) say, ‘Hey, when your career is over, you’ll have plenty of time to ride all the motorcycles you want without having the same type of responsibility.’ ”

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/14829655.htm

god i hope he doesnt try too hard to return....

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Grimace should never step foot onto a major league field again.

Ken Harvey is Doug M. without the great defense (terrible defense, in fact).

A guy with a .733 career OPS is valuable if he is a slickfielding SS. As a 1b with terrible D skills, Harvey doesn't have much of a MLB future.

i still remember whne he got hit in the back with a relay throw that made me litterly fall out of my chair laughin!