Jose Iglesias came in as a defensive substitute because of his skillful glove work in the eighth inning of the Mets’ win on Friday night.
He took the field after the game to show off a completely different set of skills in a you-had-to-see-it-to-believe-it scene.
The 34-year-old journeyman infielder — also known by his stage name “Candelita” — took a microphone after the 7-2 win over the Astros to sing his original song “OMG” to the delight of his teammates and fans who remained in the Citi Field stands.
“It’s a dream come true,” Iglesias said after the game. “I’m very humbled about it. I’m very excited about the win today. I’m floating right now.”
Iglesias, hitting .389 since joining the big league Mets in May, belted out the tune with Mets players — and at least one background dancer — around him on the infield, with Pete Alonso donning an “OMG” shirt.
Having his teammates around him for what was a special moment made it all the sweeter.
“That says how tight are we and says what are we as a group,” Iglesias added. “It’s the world we are in and we are just riding it and enjoying it one day at a time.”
During the win Friday, the Mets even carried an “OMG” sign in the dugout, which was most noticeable when Jeff McNeil carried it and grinned widely after swatting a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to extend a lead over Houston.
McNeil has mostly struggled in 2024 and has even sat at points this month in favor of Iglesias, especially against lefties.
Despite this, the 2022 MLB batting champ said Iglesias has been “fantastic” and has “the support of me.”
Iglesias first introduced the song he wrote to his Mets teammates when he was called up from Triple-A Syracuse, and it quickly became a hit among the Amazin’s — with players admittedly signing the tune that he’s been using as a walk-up song.
During the Mets’ hot streak in June that’s now put them over .500, the Latin pop song has caught fire, and Citi Field has even used the tune when the team has homered.
On Thursday at an event inside the ballpark during the Mets’ off day, Iglesias performed the song, with a number of Mets players joining him in a delirious scene.
One day later, the official music dropped on YouTube, with it already garnering more than 13,000 views in just seven hours.
Iglesias took a step further after the game, performing it live to thousands of people in his home ballpark — and to those watching on the Apple TV+ broadcast — in a joyful mini concert that felt almost unreal.
Manager Carlos Mendoza was happy to let his infielder let loose on the diamond.
“I think it’s a special occasion now that you have an active player who is also releasing a song that is becoming very popular. Fireworks night and we end up winning the game, I think it worked out perfect. If we don’t win the game, I don’t think you would’ve seen something like that.
“They are having a good time, having fun, but at the same time knowing they have a job to do.”
