When the Mets round off their 40-man roster tonight, adding players who will be eligible as Rule 5 selections, Tyler Bashlor needs to be added to the roster. Bashlor is a hard throwing right-handed pitcher who shared time between Port St. Lucie and Binghamton last summer.

The Mets are just beginning to discover Tyler Bashlor’s tools. Tommy John surgery in his 2014 season would set back the time table for the young Met prospect and Bashlor didn’t fire a professional pitch until early April in 2016. So in many respects Bashlor is still finding himself and his 2017 baseball season speaks of great promise. Bashlor started his season pitching in Port St. Lucie and was just gaining a full head of steam when the season came to a close in Binghamton.

Bashlor has an electric fastball and struck out 89 batters in 49.2 innings while walking only 27 this year. The kid entered a playoff chase in Binghamton and was lights out for the Rumble Ponies. Bashlor pitched 14.2 innings in Binghamton striking out 23 batters and walking only 4, allowing only 7 hits without ceding a run.

Bashlor has heat that hits the high 90’s and a nasty breaking ball. After watching him pitch several times in Binghamton it appeared his change-up was still in the development stages. Bashlor’s 15.22 strikeouts per nine innings led the entire minor leagues for pitchers that threw at least 40 innings this year. That’s potential worth protecting.

Convincing me even more is the reaction I received from a Miami Marlin scout who occasionally frequents NYSEG Stadium during the summer. I have come to know the guy and when he’s at a game I stop and talk baseball. Late this past summer he asked if the Rumble Ponies had anyone I felt was worth noting. I told him I was high on a new relief pitcher, a kid named Bashlor.

It just so happened Tyler closed the game that night. The scout sought me out after the game to thank me and tell me I was spot on about this kid. He had placed Tyler Bashlor on his radar. Here’s hoping Tyler is just a blip on other team’s radar screens, but a guy who continues to develop as a key cog in a future Met bullpen.