Tyler Bashlor Meshes With Mets’ Bullpen Emphasis

A late-season surge following a promotion has positioned righthanded reliever Tyler Bashlor for a spot on the Mets’ 40-man roster.

The 24-year-old Bashlor struggled with his control for much of the season at high Class A St. Lucie. But he was moved to Double-A Binghamton in late July and flourished for the final month-plus of the season, posting a 0.75 WHIP over 12 appearances in which he did not allow an earned run. Over that stretch he struck out 23 batters in 14.2 innings.

“Bashlor increased his focus on throwing strikes with his fastball,” assistant general manager John Ricco said. “That made a big difference for him.”

Bashlor throws his fastball in the 92-96 mph range and has impressed talent evaluators with his slider. Now the Mets would like to receive a dominant full season from Bashlor, who went 2-2, 4.89 with a 1.54 WHIP in 34 appearances for St. Lucie.

The Mets have prioritized the organization’s bullpen depth, as evidenced by late-season maneuvers in which veterans Lucas Duda, Addison Reed, Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson and Neil Walker were traded for seven minor league relievers.

Bashlor, an 11th-round pick in 2013 out of South Georgia JC who signed for an over-slot $550,000, belongs in the conversation with Jamie Callahan, Jacob Rhame and Drew Smith among hard-throwing relievers who could receive a look at the big league level in 2018.

Bashlor, who is listed at 6 feet and 190 pounds, played third base and catcher in high school before shifting to right field during his freshman year of junior college. Before his sophomore season he was invited to the summer-ball Futures Collegiate Baseball League, where he began his pitching career.

After he was drafted, Bashlor had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In his return, he went 4-2, 2.50 with a 1.25 WHIP in 34 appearances at low Class A Columbia in 2016.

“He has a chance to be a late-inning reliever at the major league level with continued development of fastball command and breaking ball consistency,” Ricco said.