From Minor League Gamble to Major League Spark: How José Iglesias Became the Mets’ Miracle Man in 2024

How could one player make such a significant impact on a Major League Baseball team that was expected to go nowhere in 2024? That’s exactly what José Iglesias did this past season—both on and off the field.

If you’re unfamiliar with Iglesias, he made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox. Two years later, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he spent five seasons. After that, Iglesias struggled to find a permanent home. From 2019 to 2022, he played for five different teams over four seasons—the Reds, Orioles, Angels, Red Sox, and Rockies. By 2023, no team had signed him, leading Iglesias to sit out the entire season. Then, in December, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. After a strong spring training, the Mets told him he would start the season in the minors. At that point, Iglesias considered retiring, but the Mets promised him an opportunity in the majors if one arose—and sure enough, it did. On May 31, he got the Call-up.

That moment turned out to be the turning point for the Mets’ season. The team had started disastrously, going 0-5, and by the end of May, they were 11 games under .500. There were rumors that owner Steve Cohen and President of Baseball Operation David Stearns were preparing to sell at the trade deadline, but then something unexpected happened—the Mets started winning. From June 1 through the end of the regular season, they had the best record in Major League Baseball, clinching a playoff spot on the final day. They went on to defeat the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series and the Phillies in the NLDS, eventually falling to the Dodgers in the NLCS. However, the miraculous run had already given Mets fans plenty to be thankful for.

One of the biggest catalysts for this turnaround was Iglesias. Despite being unwanted by 29 other teams, the Mets saw something special in him. Over 85 games, he led the team with a .337 batting average and quickly became a fan favorite.

Iglesias’ breakthrough in 2024 came after Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil broke his wrist and missed the rest of the regular season. McNeil, the 2022 NL batting champion, left a major void at second base, which Iglesias filled beautifully.

But Iglesias’ impact wasn’t limited to his performance on the field. Off the field, he made waves as a musician, performing under the name Candelita. His song “OMG” quickly became the Met’s rallying anthem. Not only did it top the iTunes Latin pop charts and the Billboard Latin Digital Sales charts, but Iglesias performed the song live at Citi Field after a late-June game against the Astros, with the entire Mets team joining in on the field. Fans could feel the joy and camaraderie, as the Mets embarked on one of the greatest turnarounds in baseball history. Every time a Mets player hit a home run, they posed in the dugout with an “OMG” sign, a creation by Mets fan and artist Jerome McCrory.

During the team’s incredible playoff run, Iglesias released a remix of “OMG” featuring Pitbull on October 11. Sadly the Mets’ dream season ended just nine days later, as they fell to the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Now, in the offseason, the Mets face a crucial decision. Iglesias is once again a free agent. If it were up to the fans, David Stearns would sign him to a multi-year deal. Will the Mets bring back the player no one else wanted and who became one of the biggest surprises of 2024? OMG—this Mets fan can only hope!