Mike Harkey

Michael Anthony Harkey (born October 25, 1966) is an American former professional baseball player and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1988 to 1997 for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, California Angels, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After his playing career, Harkey became a coach for the Florida Marlins in 2006 and the New York Yankees from 2008 through 2013, before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks, who he coached in 2014 and 2015. He returned to the Yankees in 2016 and is currently serving as their bullpen coach.

Playing career

Chicago Cubs

Harkey was born in San Diego, California, where he attended Ganesha High School in Pomona and California State University (CSU) Fullerton, where he played college baseball for the CSU Fullerton Titans. He was the first-round draft pick (4th overall) of the Chicago Cubs in the 1987 Major League Baseball Draft. Seattle Mariners owner George Argyros had plans to draft him with the first overall pick (as he liked the fact that he was from California and also thought he could make it to the majors faster), but was eventually convinced to draft Ken Griffey Jr. instead.

That year, Harkey went 2–3 with a 3.55 ERA in 12 starts for the Peoria Chiefs in A-ball. He finished the season in Double-A with the Pittsfield Cubs. Harkey started the 1988 season in Pittsfield, where he pitched to a 9–2 record with a 1.37 ERA. He was promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he was 7–2 with a 3.55 ERA. Harkey was called up to the Cubs in September. He pitched to a 2.60 ERA in five starts.

The 1989 season was a disaster for Harkey. Expected to be in Chicago's starting rotation, he tried to pitch through shoulder tendinitis and worsened the problem. The Cubs placed him on the disabled list to start the year and sent him back to Triple-A. After 12 games with the Iowa Cubs, he tore cartilage in his knee and missed the rest of the season.

Harkey regained the velocity on his fastball and was placed in the Cubs 1990 rotation. He finished the season with a record of 12–6 and 3.26 earned run average in 173.2 innings, and finished fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. In 1991, Harkey pitched in four games before going down with a shoulder injury. He underwent surgery to repair a cartilage tear and missed the rest of the season.

Harkey didn't return to the majors until July 20, 1992. On September 6, he attempted a cartwheel in the Wrigley Field outfield during pregame warmups and suffered a ruptured patella tendon, ending his season. On June 20, 1993, the Cubs placed Harkey on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. He finished the season with a 5.26 ERA in 28 starts.

Colorado Rockies

Harkey signed with the Colorado Rockies for the strike-shortened 1994 season. He lost his spot in the rotation, ultimately pitching to a 5.79 ERA in 91.2 innings (13 starts).

Oakland Athletics

He signed with the Oakland Athletics for the 1995 season, pitching to a 6.27 ERA in 66 innings before he was designated for assignment in July.

California Angels

On July 19, 1995, the California Angels claimed Harkey off waivers and plugged him into their rotation. On September 30, he pitched 6.2 innings of shutout baseball in a must-win game against Oakland to help the Angels force a one-game playoff with the Seattle Mariners.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Harkey signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 1996 season, but spent the entire year with the Albuquerque Isotopes in Triple-A. He re-upped with the Dodgers for the 1997 season and was called up on June 23 to pitch out of the bullpen. He appeared in 10 games over multiple stints with the major league club that year.

Coaching career

Harkey served as a minor league pitching coach for San Diego Padres affiliates the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2000, Fort Wayne Wizards in 2001 and 2003, Lake Elsinore Storm in 2002 and 2004, and Mobile BayBears in 2005, as well as the Chicago Cubs affiliate Iowa Cubs in 2007. He served as the bullpen coach for the Florida Marlins in 2006.

Harkey joined the Yankees for the 2008 season. Under Harkey, the Yankees bullpen played a major role in their success during the 2009 season, culminating in a victory in the 2009 World Series. He served as the bullpen coach for six seasons.

After the 2013 season, he was hired as the Diamondbacks' pitching coach. The Diamondbacks fired Harkey after the 2015 season. He returned to the Yankees as their bullpen coach for the 2016 season.

Personal life

Harkey's son, Tony, is a former infielder for the Cal State-Fullerton Titans and Concordia University Irvine baseball team. Tony won a NAIA World Series title in 2011 with the Concordia University Irvine Eagles. His son Cory Harkey was a tight end for the Los Angeles Rams, and is now serving as a Special Teams Assistant Coach for the Buffalo Bills.

Notes

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harkey, Mike
1966 births
Living people
African-American baseball coaches
African-American baseball players
Albuquerque Dukes players
20th-century American sportsmen
Arizona Diamondbacks coaches
Baseball coaches from California
Baseball players from San Diego
California Angels players
Cal State Fullerton Titans baseball players
Charlotte Knights players
Chicago Cubs players
Colorado Rockies players
Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Florida Marlins coaches
Iowa Cubs players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball bullpen coaches
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball pitching coaches
Minor league baseball coaches
New York Yankees coaches
Oakland Athletics players
Orlando Cubs players
Peoria Chiefs players
Pittsfield Cubs players
21st-century African-American sportsmen
20th-century African-American sportsmen
Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks players
Humboldt Crabs players