Paul Blackburn had already fallen asleep in his Syracuse, N.Y., hotel room late Tuesday when Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner tried to call him. With his phone on silent, Blackburn missed the call. About 15 minutes later,

Paul Blackburn’s “weird” season took another strange turn late Tuesday night when he was awoken by a messenger banging on his hotel room door after missing a phone call informing him the Mets were planning to activate him the next day from the injured list.

Mets designate former All-star pitcher Paul Blackburn for assignment, clearing space for top prospect Nolan McLean.

NEW YORK — Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn was sleeping when pitching coach Jeremy Hefner called him late Tuesday night. Blackburn was in Rochester, resting ahead of his rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. But the Mets had news to deliver to the pitcher.

McLean, a 24-year-old prospect ranked third overall in the Mets’ system, is expected to take the place of Frankie Montas in the rotation.

The New York Mets reinstated right-hander Paul Blackburn (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned pitcher Jusin Hagenman to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn was scheduled to make his fifth rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, but those plans have changed. As first

Paul Blackburn had already fallen asleep in his Syracuse, N.Y., hotel room late Tuesday when Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner tried to call him. With his phone on silent, Blackburn missed the call. About 15 minutes later,