José Iglesias made his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2011 at age 21. Three years earlier, he defected from Cuba while traveling with the national team during an international tournament in Canada. Known for his productive bat and defensive versatility, the longtime shortstop found it increasingly difficult to land a major league contract after entering his early 30s, though he continued to persevere on minor league deals (including a stint with the San Diego Padres in 2023). During that period, Iglesias began releasing Latin pop music under his nickname, Candelita, which translates to “firecracker.” His breakout single, “OMG,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chart in July and became the anthem of the New York Mets during their inspired run to the National League Championship Series last season.
(Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity)
You’re 35 years old and you’ve played for eight MLB teams. What is most different about who you are now versus who you were your first five years in the league?
A: I think at this point in my life, in my career, I don’t try to impress no one. I don’t try to be someone. It’s just be who you are and be the best version of yourself. That’s where I’m at.
You haven’t had an easy road. You didn’t play at all in 2023 after a very good season with the Rockies in ’22. So here you are, 10-plus years in the majors, and you’re waiting for a phone call or only receiving minor league deals. What has this been like mentally?
A: Listen, it’s not been easy. It’s not been easy. The game has been treating me different. Not fair to some degree. I didn’t play in ’23 but that wasn’t my fault. I had a great season with the Colorado Rockies and … MLB decided not to give me an opportunity. And then the Mets give me a shot last year. I grabbed it with two hands and proved them wrong one more time. And then here I am, you know, doing the same thing each and every year. I love the challenge, but to some point, you know, … You just want teams to be fair, right? I mean, they have their particular way to look at it and value players. I respect that. I don’t necessarily agree with it. But the ups and down and the minor league deals, it’s completely unfair how I’ve been in that situation. But here I am. I’m excited to be with a big-league team again and play.
Who you are is really shaped by where you come from. You grew up in Cuba. What was it like for you there in terms of opportunity?
A: Cuba was, you know, I was very blessed. It’s a very poor country. We’ve been through a lot. My dad made $10 a month. It was very tough. That’s why I decided to leave. Left everything behind. Culture, family, friends, everything, and crossed the border. And just fight for a dream. And here I am. It’s a long story short, but it’s a dream come true to be able to put on a baseball uniform and just to be alive in general. I don’t take any day for granted. I’m very humble about the opportunity to continue to help a big-league team.
You were just a teenager when you literally ran across the border from Canada to the United States. How scary was that?
A: That was tough. That was tough. I didn’t speak the language at the time. I have to cross the border by myself when I was 17 years old. It was a sacrifice that I never regret. It was dark, it was difficult at the time. You’re by yourself, just literally in the middle of nowhere, not knowing where to go to, what to do, who to talk to or what to say. But God was on my side. And then he sees my intention, and he put me in no better place. I have a beautiful family, I have a great career and here I am today. Continue to push this legacy to win a World Series.
You’ve said that when you’re not preparing, you’re staying on top of guys like Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. What do you mean by that?
A: My role, you know. My role is to be ready every time Mike (Shildt) needs me, whatever he needs me. You need me in left, I’ll be there. Second, short, third, it doesn’t matter. I’m loyal to him. I’m loyal to this organization who gave me the opportunity to play the game I love and to help them achieve something. It’s a role that I’m ready to do and it’s a great time in my career for this role, where I have experience and I get along with the guys and I lead by example. So it’s pretty smooth and easy for me to continue to push Manny, continue to push Tati, continue to make my team better, like Bogey. We’ve known each other for a long time so that definitely helps. And when you have a background and they look at you as someone that has done something for this game, that makes it a lot easier.
Your versatility is such a calling card. You play all around the infield and just recently, you played the outfield for the first time in your career. What was the conversation like to be able to do that?
A: It was pretty funny. I walked by Mikey (Shildt) and he’s like, ‘How do you feel in left?’ And I’m like, ‘Super comfortable.’ And you know, I have no reps in left at all, but I have to say comfortable because I want to play and I want to help this team however I can. Shout out to Mikey, because here he shows a lot of confidence in me … I’m extremely excited to give Mike and the organization a deep look and different ways to contribute to help this team, because you never know. It’s a long season. We’re going to lose players here and there and depth is important.
You spent four years with the Red Sox and five with the Detroit Tigers, coming up around a lot of respected veteran players, many of whom you’ve credited over the years. How much tougher was it to be a rookie back then than it is now?
A: Oh, night and day. I mean, there’s no such thing as a rookie anymore. Which in a way, is good for them. I feel like back in the day when I came up, they were too hard on the young (guys). Too hard on the aspect of, like, playing time, too hard on the aspect of the way they are being treated in the clubhouse. Sometimes it’s too much. I agree on that. Where I feel like today is kind of too loose. So I think the game is still looking for the happy medium where you show the young kids the respect for someone who has done it for a long (time), when you look from a front office, you know, to manage playing time and what they’re trying to accomplish. I think the game is still trying to figure it out. The happy medium of a winning championship team combined with experience and age.
You added a second career a few years ago. Was it a difficult decision to create music professionally when weighing the media and fan perception and what the old guards in baseball would think?
A: You know what, it was. Because the game of baseball, especially when I came up and the way I grew up playing this game, it’s all about the game. I think we lose some degrees of life when you put on this uniform. That’s something that me, personally, at this point in my career, I try to balance it out as much as I can and I try to lead by example for others who have dreams to become something. … I’m going to be me, I’m going to connect with people, I’m going to have fun, I’m going to enjoy life, I’m going to live life, I’m going to respect the game and I’m going to do it right. And I’m going to respect the music industry. I’m going to do it right … So it’s a win-win situation, and the reason it’s going the way it is is because it’s real. I’m not trying to fake it. I’m not trying to impress nobody. It’s who I am. I love seeing the fans connecting and dancing and enjoying it. In the meantime, we’re playing good baseball and prepared and respect the game. So I think that combo has been working out very fine for me.
Your song “OMG” is all about believing in yourself and never giving up. It became the Mets anthem last season. You even performed at Citi Field in front of more than 32,000 fans, with people of all ages and backgrounds — including your teammates — singing along. How meaningful was it to watch your worlds collide like that?
A: That’s exactly what I was imagining. I want not just me, but the game of baseball, you know, to have fun with it. There are certain things that you have to respect in the game, but you have to enjoy it. That’s what it’s all about. I was very pleased and very happy the way I manage it, and the New York Mets, how they supported me. My teammates, how they supported me. J.D. (Martinez) was a big part of that song, and Luis Severino holding the (OMG) sign. And then just how the whole league and the whole industry and everybody is just backing us up and backing me up on this. It’s nothing but a very humbling experience. It’s a dream come true.
Who nicknamed you Candelita?
A: Candelita comes from my dad. My daddy’s name is Candelario, so Candelita comes from that and from Little League.
If you had to pick anyone from the clubhouse to do a duet with, which player would make the cut?
A: I would go with Tatis. Tati is my locker mate and my plane mate. He has a great style. He has the personality. He has the vibe … He’s a guy that comes to the field to compete, he cares, but also is enjoying life.
He’s got some dance moves too. Fans saw you do that kip-up earlier this season, where you rolled on your back and jumped to your legs. You’ve got some dance moves too.
A: I mean, you play shortstop, you better dance.
Any plans for a song here or a concert in Gallagher Square?
A: Yeah. We have new songs coming in. One with La Adictiva. It’s a huge band in Mexico … And I also have another song … It’s a special collaboration that comes with it and I’m going to leave it as a surprise who that is, but it’s going to be released this year, in this season.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
A: I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been very fortunate. I’m very humble about every experience I had, but I think it will be special at the end of this year, when this team makes the playoffs, to throw a huge party here for this city. You know, with all those artists (to) join me. Just a live party for the game and for the Padres and for this great fanbase. I see it with my own eyes. Every single night it’s 40,000-plus people and they are cheering for you and they got your back. Respect to them, to the Padres fans.
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