13-year MLB veteran Jose Iglesias is trading in his baseball glove for a Broadway mic.
The former MLB All-Star has remained a free agent throughout the 2026 season. While he may not have gotten a call from a contender, Iglesias has found a fun way to keep himself busy.
Last month, news emerged that Iglesias was set to join the Tony Award-winning “Buena Vista Social Club” for a six-week run. He was set to serve as the Broadway musical’s narrator.
Iglesias was in utter disbelief when he got the call for the role. He shared that he even thought that the producer who contacted him had reached out to the wrong person. They were, in fact, looking to get a hold of Iglesias, who had previously wowed Mets fans with his original song “OMG” that served as the team’s unofficial anthem during the 2024 season.
The show’s producers must have been big fans of Iglesias’ live postgame performance of his song last June under his stage name “Candelita.”
“This is something that actually caught me off guard completely,” Iglesias recently told TMZ Sports. “It’s not on my bucket list to do this. But you know what, when that phone rings and the opportunity [presents itself], it’s a must go.”
The musical is about a legendary musical group from Havana — a story the Cuban-born shortstop was very familiar with growing up.
Iglesias is set to make his Broadway debut with the production on Aug. 27. While Iglesias remains unsure about how much the production will use his musical talents, he’s expected to perform at least one song.
Despite moving from the MLB diamond to the Broadway stage, Iglesias told TMZ that he does not plan on retiring just yet. He’ll have quite the stories to tell his future teammates should he make a comeback next season.
Iglesias last played for the San Diego Padres during the 2025 season, batting .229 with 3 home runs and 36 RBIs across 112 games.
