Photo by James Farrance Photography

As per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, New York Mets minor-league infielder, Dilson Herrera, has opted out of his contract with the team, making him a free agent.

Herrera, 25, signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in November and has thrived in 2019, being named to the International League All-Star team last month.

The former Mets farmhand (acquired from Pittsburgh with Vic Black in the 2013 deal that sent John Buck and Marlon Byrd to the Pirates, then traded to Cincinnati in 2016, for Jay Bruce) was conspicuously absent from the Triple-A Syracuse Mets’ lineup in Monday’s 9-7 loss to Rochester. Now we know why.

Over 256 plate appearances with Syracuse this season, the Colombian native owns a .258/.355/.566 slash line with 17 home runs, 17 two-base hits, 38 RBIs, a .382 weighted on-base average, and 126 wRC+.

His 10.5% walk rate was the highest he’d posted since putting up a 13.8% mark with Triple-A Louisville (Cincinnati) in 2016, though his 27% strikeout rate is a bit of an eyesore.

Adeiny Hechavarria (.226/.398/.656 in 97 plate appearances with the Mets), while keeping his head above water but not shining by any means with the big club, is a major-league-capable bench player, but a call-up to the majors arguably wasn’t too far off for Herrera.

We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.