A true homecoming – Dilson Herrera returns to the Mets

A familiar face is coming back into the fold. The Mets announced that they have signed infielder Dilson Herrera to a minor-league deal, with an invite to spring straining.

The 24-year-old is coming off of a season in which he hit .184 in 53 games for the Cincinnati Reds. He played most of his time in the minors, where he hit .297 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs.

Herrera was originally signed by the Pirates as an international free agent in 2010. In 2013 he was traded to the Mets along with Vic Black for Marlon Byrd and John Buck. He played for the Mets from 2014-2015, hitting .215/.308/.383 in 49 games with six home runs and 32 hits. The signing comes full circle, as he becomes the teammate of the man he was traded for. On August 1, 2016 Herrera was traded to the Reds for Jay Bruce.

A lifetime .203 hitter, Herrera has been brought back to a club in the middle of a youth movement. While his minor league numbers surpass his major league numbers, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him join the major league roster in 2019. With the Mets experimenting with various options on and off the field, giving anyone a chance seems to fit the team code.