MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Odessa native Herrera plans to work his way back onto Mets' roster

The winter was cold and cruel to Odessa native Daniel Herrera, but hope springs eternal as he prepares for his first spring training with the New York Mets.

Herrera pitched well out of the Mets’ bullpen during the final month of last season, but they took him off their 40-man roster in early January and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo. The left-handed reliever still received an invitation to the Mets’ spring training camp, which begins Feb. 19 in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and he intends to be in a Mets uniform on opening day in New York.

“I’ve been working pretty hard this offseason and throwing the ball pretty well already, and I’m excited to get to camp,” Herrera said. “It’s a whole new group of guys, and I think it’ll be a lot of fun.

“My goal is to make the ballclub, and that’s what I’m in it for.”

Herrera, a 27-year-old Permian graduate who lives in Austin during the offseason, is back in his hometown this week to visit family and friends before beginning his seventh professional season. He also will be a featured guest at tonight’s West Texas Sports Banquet & Memorabilia Auction at Midland Country Club.

Herrera, who spent most of last season with Triple-A Nashville in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, was sent to the Mets on Sept. 1 to complete a trade for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez. He finished the season with the Mets and shined as a situational lefty, posting a 1.13 ERA with five strikeouts in eight innings and 16 appearances.

But last month the Mets placed him on waivers along with outfield prospect Fernando Martinez so they could clear spots on their 40-man roster for outfielder Scott Hairston and infielder Ronny Cedeno. Herrera cleared waivers and was then placed on the minor-league roster.

“I was throwing the ball well and strung a lot of good outings together, so it was a big surprise,” Herrera said. “I didn’t expect to get that call. But they had to make a move, and unfortunately I was one of the ones.”

Herrera said he was reassured by Mets assistant general manager John Ricco that he could be placed back on the 40-man roster “just as easily” as he was taken off.

Still, Herrera said he’ll have to earn that spot with his performance in spring training and possibly the minors early in the season.

“I think some things are going to have to happen and go right for me to get my goal to make the ballclub out of camp,” the 5-foot-6 southpaw said. “I’m going to have to do a lot of impressing, and hopefully they give me another chance.”

Herrera said he began his offseason training program about a month after the end of the 2011 regular season, working out a gym in Austin and at the University of Texas’ baseball facility with former Longhorns Sam LeCure and Drew Stubbs. LeCure and Stubbs play for the Cincinnati Reds, the team Herrera debuted with in 2008 and played for until May of last season.

Herrera said he’s “feeling good” and plans to arrive in Florida at least a week before his scheduled reporting date, and he’ll arrive with a new pitch in his repertoire. Herrera said he’s added a “12-6” curveball to go along with his fastball, cutter, sinker, slow curve and trademark screwball.

Herrera might also have a new hairdo. He said he hasn’t gotten a haircut since June, so his hair hangs below his shoulders in the back and below his chin in the front.

“The only new thing (in my life) is not caring about the length of my hair,” he said. “But I’ll clean it up before I get to spring training.”

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THE BASICS

>> What: 21st West Texas Sports Banquet.

>> When, where: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Midland Country Club.

>> Keynote speaker: Lee Smith, who pitched for the Midland Cubs before embarking on a storied career as a reliever with eight Major League Baseball teams.

>> Other guests: Odessa’s Danny Herrera (pitcher for New York Mets); Keith Lieppman
(Oakland A’s Director of Player Development).