The Federacion Colombiana De Beisbol announced that veteran infielder Dilson Herrera will replace Donovan Solano on the roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Solano signed with the Minnesota Twins on February 23 for one year and $2 million, with up to $250,000 in additional incentives. Solano decided to work through Spring Training to prepare for the upcoming season instead of playing for Colombia during the World Baseball Classic.
Last year, Solano played in 80 games for the Cincinnati Reds, batting .284 with 79 hits, four home runs and 24 RBI. Solano was a huge contributor for Colombia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Herrera played for the Atlantic League’s Staten Island FerryHawks in 2022, batting .255 in 89 games with four home runs and 44 RBI. He last appeared in Major League Baseball in 2020, playing three games with the Baltimore Orioles, striking out four times and failing to reach base in six plate appearances.
Colombia will still have offensive depth during the 2023 tournament despite losing Solano. Gio Urshela, Harold Ramirez, and Jordan Diaz will be huge contributors for the Colombia offense, and manager Jolbert Cabrera will have to assess which other players can fill holes when their camp opens up in a few days prior to the start of Pool C in Phoenix at Chase Field.
Colombia will play their first game of the World Baseball Classic against Mexico on March 11 at 2:30 p.m. EST on Fox.
