Mike Harkey is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for ten seasons. He was born on October 25, 1966, in San Diego, California, and attended Cal State Fullerton, where he played college baseball.
Harkey was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 1987 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 1988. He spent the majority of his career with the Cubs, playing for them from 1988 to 1993. He also played for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, and California Angels.
Harkey was known for his fastball, which he could throw at speeds of up to 95 miles per hour. He was also a good curveball pitcher and had a decent changeup. He was a solid starting pitcher for the Cubs, and in 1990, he had his best season, going 12-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 131 strikeouts.
Injuries plagued Harkey's career, and he missed significant time due to various ailments, including shoulder and elbow injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 1995, which caused him to miss the entire season. He returned to the Cubs in 1996 but struggled, going 1-5 with a 7.36 ERA in 11 starts.
Harkey was traded to the Rockies in 1997 but was released after just one season. He signed with the Athletics but was released before the start of the 1998 season. He then signed with the Angels but was released again after just one season.
Harkey retired from baseball in 1998 with a career record of 36-36 and a 4.49 ERA. He struck out 427 batters in 639 innings pitched. After retiring, he became a pitching coach and worked for several teams, including the Cubs, Yankees, and Diamondbacks.
In conclusion, Mike Harkey was a solid starting pitcher in the MLB who had a good fastball and a decent curveball. Injuries derailed his career, and he retired with a record of 36-36 and a 4.49 ERA. He went on to become a pitching coach after retiring from baseball.
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