Backman believes second baseman has all-star potential

When the New York Mets traded veteran major league outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Pittsburgh Pirates two years ago, they had accepted the rebuilding label and were prepared to wait for their newest acquisition, a 19-year-old Colombian infielder, to properly develop.

Dilson Herrera, now 21, already has played in 43 games and has more plate apperances with the Mets than in Triple-A, leading some to believe his promotion might have been a bit premature.

Still, the Mets have confidence they have found a future star in Herrera, who was optioned to the Las Vegas 51s on June 30.

He just needs more time — the kind he will get every day with the 51s.

“Marlon Byrd has had a pretty good career,” 51s manager Wally Backman said. “But with what we were trying to do in rebuilding, it’s a great deal for the Mets. …

“For Dilson, it’s just a matter of working in all aspects of the game. He shows lots and lots of promise. Just the energy he brings to the game, the way he plays the game, the nice swing. He’s just a kid still. I know other people have said it — and I believe it, too — I think the kid, at some point in time, can be an all-star.”

Herrera, a 5-foot-10-inch, 150-pound second baseman, was acquired Aug. 27, 2013 with a player to be named (pitcher Vic Black) from the Pirates in exchange for cash, catcher John Buck and Byrd, who has 1,431 hits in his 14-year career.

But considering Herrera and Black each have shown flashes in the major leagues, and the other two players were at the tail end of their careers, the Mets appear to have come out on top in the trade.

Herrera, who was the first native of Colombia to appear in the majors for the Mets, also became the first position player in Mets history to begin the season on a Single-A roster (St. Lucie) in a non-rehab assignment and appear in the major leagues later that season.

He batted .220 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 18 games and finished the season as the youngest player on an MLB roster in 2014. This season, he started in Las Vegas before getting a call-up in May.

“He just needs time,” Backman said. “Dilson is an everyday player at second base, without question. When he gets a little more learning under his belt, he’s a top-of-the-order hitter.”

In two months with the Mets this season, Herrera hit .195 with 22 strikeouts in shared time with Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores.

“I learned a lot in the big leagues,” said Herrera, who was Baseball America’s No. 4 prospect in the Mets organization at the start of the season. “Hitting, it was a little bit down so I’m working on that right now to get better. They sent me here to keep working. I know I can learn a lot in Triple-A to get back to the big leagues again.”

Herrera said he will use the major league experience to help the 51s, but his ultimate goal is to rejoin the Mets.

“I’m ready for everything,” Herrera said. “I’ll wait for the opportunity again. Sometimes we have bad moments, and you’ve got to take them. I am trying to do my best and do what I’ve got to do.”

■ NOTES — Herrera finished 3-for-4 with a home run Sunday in the 51s’ 3-2 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes at Cashman Field. Pitcher Dillon Gee (2-1, 8.82 ERA) struck out four in seven innnings and gave up two runs, six hits and one walk to earn the win. … The third game of the series starts at 7:05 p.m. today, with 51s right-hander Matthew Bowman (5-9, 5.71 ERA) taking on Albuquerque righty Jair Jurrjens (1-1, 5.13 ERA). … The 51s, who have a 4½-game lead over El Paso in the Pacific Southern Division, are 5-5 in their past 10 games. … 51s infielder Matt Reynolds and outfielder Travis Taijeron were recently selected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star game, which will take place July 15, at Werner Park in Omaha, Neb. The game will be broadcast live on MLB Network at 5 p.m. PT. … Catcher Anthony Recker has seven home runs and 16 RBIs in his past 13 games for Las Vegas.

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson.