PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Second baseman Dilson Herrera will depart New York Mets camp for a week next month in order to participate with his native Colombia in a qualifying tournament for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Colombia as well as France, Panama and Spain will compete at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City from March 17-20 for a berth in next year's tournament.
While Panama is part of that same qualifying event as Colombia, Ruben Tejada will remain in Mets camp and will not represent his country. The Mets were not asked for permission to let Tejada depart camp, assistant general manager John Ricco said.
Herrera, 21, likely is ticketed for Triple-A Las Vegas to open the season. That assignment all but became cemented when the Mets added Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker during the offseason, which pushed Wilmer Flores and Tejada to the backup infielder roles at the major league level.
Herrera hit .211 with three home runs and six RBIs in 90 at-bats at the major league level last season.
