3 Mets MLB Pipeline top 100 prospects that were busts

2. Dilson Herrera

This prospect was once described as a “small but powerful tank” by the SNY broadcast in 2015. Acquired at the waiver deadline for Marlon Byrd in 2013, Dilson Herrera was a Columbian-born 19-year-old second baseman. He was analyzed as a potential 15-20 home run infielder with a strong arm but struggled to turn double plays efficiently. His power and a good eye at the plate were the exact ‘Sandy Alderson type of player’.

With David Wright missing going on the disabled list in September 2014, the Mets made the call to Herrera. He impressed Terry Collins and the coaching staff in his short 18-game sample size where he hit 3 home runs and 11 RBI. This drew the attention of MLB Pipeline to make him the Mets’ 6th best prospect, above both Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith at the time.

Herrera would play just 31 more games for the Mets in 2015, hitting just .211 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI. He hit a memorable home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the Mets’ division-clinching series. Though Herrera never became the future second baseman Mets fans had hoped for, he did net a return of Jay Bruce at the trade deadline in 2016. At the time, we thought trading Herrera would come back to bite the Mets in years to come. In hindsight, the Mets gave up very little to acquire Bruce.