Jose Iglesias changed the direction of the Mets’ season after spending almost a year and a half in the minor leagues.
His lively personality and Latin pop song helped lift the Mets out of their early struggles, and he slid headfirst into a key role in New York’s return to the postseason.
Iglesias slapped his left hand on first base just before pitcher Joel Payamps’ foot, getting a two-out infield single as the tying run scored. This hit started a five-run rally in the fifth inning, helping the Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 on Tuesday night in their NL Wild Card Series opener.
“What can I say? I don’t think the game has treated me fair,” Iglesias said. “But I got this opportunity. Everything that’s in the past is in the past.
I’m here today to help this great organization, to help this great team that we have, and I embrace it. And I take this opportunity with two hands and I’m not going to let it go.”
The 34-year-old Iglesias had previously played for Boston (2011-13) and Detroit (2013-18). He missed the 2014 season due to stress fractures in both shins but became an All-Star in 2015.
After playing for Cincinnati (2019), Baltimore (2020), the Los Angeles Angels (2021), the Red Sox (2021), and Colorado (2022), he only received a minor league contract with the Marlins for 2023 and was released in April.
He played 28 games with San Diego’s Triple-A El Paso team and then began this year at Triple-A Syracuse with the Mets.
He was called up on May 31 when New York was 23-33. Iglesias took advantage of the chance to play at second base, hitting .337 with four home runs and 26 RBIs.
The hit song “OMG,” which he performs with Candelita, became a symbol of the Mets’ season, leading to a sign that each home run hitter poses with in the dugout. He even performed it live at Citi Field after a win over Houston on June 28.
