“Dark Knight Has Gone”: Fans Stand Divided as New York Mets Icon Bids Adieu to MLB Aged 34

A famous athlete is always under the spotlight. For instance, if one is a pro baseballer, consistently good performance will be rewarded by fans. Wrong moves during games, however, are not so easily forgiven. Many famous examples exist; players who were at the top of their game once were later reduced to no more than nonentities. Performance is admittedly a big part of it but if there is one thing that MLB fans find unforgivable, is drug usage. And one New York Mets star seems to be facing the consequences of his past actions now.

Alex Rodriguez, who still remains a controversial figure in the sport today, faced a similar situation. When he retired in 2016, rumors swirled that it wasn’t his own choice and that the league had forced his hand. Now, some fans are wondering whether the same is happening to pitcher Matt Harvey.

Former New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey announces retirement

Ballplayers retire early from the game for all kinds of reasons. Harvey played in the major leagues for nine seasons, most notably in New York. After all, that was where he became The Dark Knight and set a new club record at 11 strikeouts on his first day. Not only that but after being selected for the All-Star game in 2013, he led the Mets to win the pennant in 2015. But the 34-year-old player’s career never quite went back to those glorious years later.

Harvey hadn’t pitched in an MLB game since 2021. The next year, he served a 60-game suspension for distributing a prohibited drug. After playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, he’s now retiring.

“With all the amazing memories came a lot of injuries and tough times. The realization that those amazingly powerful moments that make me thrive as a pitcher and help my teammates and city win are no longer possible,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “Believe me I wish I could have done more and brought more of those amazing moments back to life. I have to say this is my time to say thank you, and goodbye,” said Harvey

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Despite his heartfelt message, not all fans are feeling sad at the announcement.

Baseball fans are unsure about how to feel regarding Harvey’s retirement

Interestingly, although the Dark Knight’s career trajectory took a somewhat similar turn to Alex Rodriguez’s, Harvey is actually a fan of his frenemy Derek Jeter.

When the news was announced on Twitter, some fans decided to bash the pitcher.

Some fans still stood in support.

Some thought he had already retired, while some were wondering if it was his own decision or the league’s.

What do you think of this latest retirement news?

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