The Pittsburgh Pirates were desperate for pitching. Tyler Bashlor was looking for a fresh start.
So the right-handed reliever was almost as excited about being traded by the New York Mets on Aug. 2 for cash considerations as he was about being recalled by the Pirates Tuesday from their alternate training site in Altoona.
“I like the Mets — they’re a good organization — but I think I was just stuck in a rut there,” Bashlor said. “Wasn’t in the best of places, so getting here to Pittsburgh, smaller city, more my speed. So I’m pretty excited about it.”
Bashlor was one of multiple moves the Pirates made Tuesday to bolster their bullpen for the six-game homestand at PNC Park. To make room for Bashlor, they optioned Cody Ponce to Altoona. They also placed right-hander Yacksel Rios on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled reliever Nick Mears.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Bashlor’s role is to be determined, but the hope is for him to serve as a multi-inning reliever.
“We identified some pitch traits that he has used and that he has not used (lately) that we’re hoping to be able to be able to enhance,” Shelton said.
Bashlor, 27, was drafted in the 11th round by the Mets in 2013 out of South Georgia College, where he converted to pitcher after starting his career as a catcher and outfielder. The 6-foot, 195-pound right-hander relies primarily on a four-seam fastball and slider but has battled command issues. He was 0-6 with a 5.33 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 54 innings over 48 appearances in two seasons with the Mets.
Bashlor’s big league debut came against the Pirates on June 25, 2018, when he gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Josh Bell in the sixth inning before retiring the side in the seventh of a 6-4 loss.
Bashlor said the Pirates haven’t tinkered much with his approach.
“Just throwing my fastball up and my breaking ball off of that,” Bashlor said, “and really been throwing my changeup a lot.”
