MMN Top 40 Prospects: No. 10 Dilson Herrera

10. Dilson Herrera, 2B/SS

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 150 pounds

DOB: 3/3/1994 (Age 19)

Bat/Throws: Right/Right

Hit: 40/60 Power: 40/50 Run 60/60 Arm 50/50 Field 40/55

Coming as part of a two prospects for two veterans trade with the Pirates back in August, the Mets looks like they got a steal in Dilson Herrera. The second baseman, who played in the 2013 Futures Game has some serious promise. While the 19-year old Colombian prospect didn’t look to be too overwhelming in the South Atlantic League with a .265 average, he showed why he has been thought of in high regards, as he has hit 41 of his 112 hits for extra bases. Herrera amounted 27 doubles, 3 triples, and 11 home runs as a hitter this past year, along with 14 stolen bases.

Offensively, Herrera has the future projection of being an above-average hitter, possibly hitting .270-290 and maybe scraping .300, while using average power to hit a large amount of doubles and around 15-18 home runs in a full season. With the amount of extra bases he has hit in 116 games, he has shown that he is already able to barrel the ball with a large frequency. However, he needs to learn patience, as he has only walked 37 times while striking out 110. He’s still got time though, because he is very young. As he learns patience, his average will climb higher throughout the minors.

Defensively, he fits as an above average second baseman, with the athletic range to cover his position, and an average arm, which is adequate to make the throws to first. Overall, the Mets look as though they have gotten a steal by grabbing Herrera from the Pirates for two months of John Buck and Marlon Byrd.

Outlook: The Mets scouting team said in a recent Q & A that Herrera might have the range to play shortstop, so they’ll retry him there a year after the Pirates moved him off the position. The main question will be if his arm plays up as a shortstop. If he succeeds, we could have another top shortstop prospect in our midst. Either way, then 20-year-old Herrera starts with one of the A-Ball clubs, possibly St. Lucie, and if he hits, he will be an exciting middle infield prospect to follow in the system for the next few years, and will be ready to take the second base position from Daniel Murphy by late 2016 or early 2017.

ETA: 2016