TAMPA -- Dilson Herrera rejoined the New York Mets on Tuesday as a national hero in his native Colombia.
Herrera launched a tiebreaking solo homer against former major leaguer Manny Corpas in the eighth inning on Sunday that lifted Herrera's countrymen to a 2-1 win against host Panama in the championship game of a World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament. Colombia will now be a participant in the 2017 WBC, while Panama was eliminated.
"It was amazing for me -- amazing because everyone was watching that game in my country," said Herrera, who is part of the Mets' contingent at George M.