José Iglesias, began his baseball career in Cuba, playing for La Habana in the Cuban National Series. In July 2008, he made a bold move, defecting from the Cuban junior national team in Canada with pitcher Noel Argüelles. By September 2009, he had signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international amateur free agent. Iglesias made his MLB debut on May 8, 2011, quickly earning a reputation for his defensive skills.
His career has seen him play for multiple teams. He became a vital player for the Detroit Tigers from 2013 to 2018, even making the 2015 All-Star Game.
Despite some injury setbacks, Iglesias consistently showed his talent both offensively and defensively. In 2019, with the Cincinnati Reds, he achieved career highs in home runs and RBIs, and he continued to shine with the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, and a return stint with the Red Sox.
In 2022, Iglesias joined the Colorado Rockies on a one-year contract, delivering solid performance stats. The following year, he had short stints with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres before signing a minor league deal with the New York Mets in December of 2023. Starting the 2024 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, he impressed enough to be called up to the Mets' active roster on May 31, 2024.
A Game-Changing Signing for the Mets
When José Iglesias was called up, the Mets' record was 24-33, 4.5 games out of a Wildcard spot, with a dismal 3-7 in their last ten games and a -35 run differential. Iglesias quickly became an invaluable asset, recording 9 hits in his first six games as a Met.
After last night's two-home-run performance, his impressive stat line stands at:
.347 AVG
.380 OBP
.940 OPS
3 HR
36 RBI
More importantly, since his recall, the Mets have gone 24-12, now sit in a wildcard position, and boast a +12 run differential. Iglesias's impact has been transformative, turning the team's fortunes around and reinvigorating their playoff hopes.
In an exclusive interview I did with him this week, Iglesias reflected on his journey back to the majors and his time with the Mets. We talked about his stellar spring training performance, highlighting how he made every play and put on a fielding clinic. But because of the business side of baseball, Joey Wendle who had a guaranteed contract and Zack Short who was out of options made the opening day roster.Despite facing challenges on cut-down day, Iglesias remained optimistic and worked hard in the minors to improve and wait for his opportunity.
“You’re absolutely right. It was very tough to hear the news at the time knowing that I was going to help the team. It was tough for me and my family, but I really liked my chances here with this organization. That’s why I stuck around and went to Triple-A, working on a few things to get better and waiting for this opportunity. It's been great so far,” Iglesias shared.
Iglesias also spoke about how his positive mindset and belief in himself, reflected in his song "OMG," helped him through the tough times. “It was very tough for me. I didn’t play in the minors much. I've been very blessed to play pretty much all my career in the big leagues, but I wasn’t ready to go home at all. This great organization gave me an opportunity, and I’m taking full advantage on and off the field.”
The camaraderie and joy within the Mets team have also been essential to their success. Iglesias praised the positive energy among his teammates, including Francisco Álvarez, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo. “This is a special group. We have great human beings who are gamers. We have it very clear where the goal starts: winning a championship and trying to make the playoffs. We know it’s going to take a lot of sacrifice, but we’re going to be fine.”
Iglesias’ song "OMG" has become a rallying cry for the team and a fan favorite. “It’s a catchy song with a lot of energy. People connected with it. Singing in front of 30,000 people was a unique moment, not just for me but for the game. It’s all about happiness and good times.”
Despite bringing in several players like Zack Short, Joey Wendle, Trayce Thompson, Ben Gamel, Luke Voit, and Ji-Man Choi during spring training, the Mets have found their standout player in José Iglesias. His contributions with his glove, bat, and voice have significantly impacted the team's fortunes, proving to be the under-the-radar signing that has paid huge dividends for the Mets.
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