José Iglesias, the Cuban American infielder for the New York Mets, is making hits both on and off the field. The professional baseball player is going to the playoffs with his team and is headed to the top of the music charts with none other than Mr. 305, Rapper and Singer Pitbull. The way José Iglesias hits home runs in baseball and music and has everyone, including his teammates, singing “OMG!”
José Iglesias Hits Home Runs
After immigrating to the United States from Cuba, in 2008 at 18 years old, Iglesias has seen his dreams come to life at Citi Field, where he riles up the fans with his impressive gameplay and his new song “OMG.”
“José is a 34-year-old infielder known on the field for home run hits and turning double plays, but he’s also known on the music charts as Candelita,” ABC explains. “His song ‘OMG’ hit number one on the iTunes Latin charts (this summer) after an impromptu concert at a home game for 32,000 fans.”
Mets Magic
Since joining the Mets on May 31, Iglesias, a father of three, has helped the team reach a remarkable record of 19 wins and 8 losses — the best in Major League Baseball during that span. Much of this success is attributed to the good vibes Iglesias has brought his Mets teammates with his music.
“Thank you José Iglesias for saving the mets! 22 game hitting streak and so many clutch plays! You are an icon!” Mets fan @aftershock4253 comments on YouTube.
Another Mets fan on YouTube @bobbyowens2608 adds: “Jose Iglesias’ making our New York Mets very proud here!!”
A Team Anthem
As shown on the New York Mets official website and YouTube channel, the team has fully adopted "OMG" as their new anthem, adding energy from the locker room to the dugout to the field. “The song is a lot of fun and has a lot of energy,” Iglesias says in an interview with ABC News. “The guys are connecting with it, and I’m just very humbled about it.”
At the heart of Iglesias’ song is the message that dreams can come true with some positive energy:
“Oh my god! Todo lo malo hechalo pa’ allá
Oh my god! Dame salúd y prosperidad.
No tengo nada pero soy feliz
Solo recuerdos habitan en mi
Sueños que construir y yo voy a mi
Puedes que esta crazy, pero no lazy
Hasta lograrlo voy a seguir.”
Naturally, the lyrics resonate with Mets fans, fellow players, and music lovers. In fact, one of baseball’s biggest fans, and international music star, loves the song and the message so much that he’s teamed up with Candelita. Fellow Cuban American Pitbull just announced that he’s doing a collaboration with Candelita for “OMG.”
Fever Pitch
Major League Baseball announced the release of the new “OMG” remix, featuring Iglesias, Pitbull, and Colombian singer Silvestre Dangond. According to Iglesias, Pitbull “fell in love with OMG” when he first heard it. “ … a remix featuring Pitbull during the playoffs is a long way for Iglesias considering that he originally debuted the song in a minor league clubhouse for a Mets affiliate back in April,” USA Today writes.
Iglesias and his music reminds sports and music fans of the power of dreams, and the joy that comes when they’re realized. Whether he’s hitting home runs or topping the music charts with PItbull, one thing is clear: Candelita is a hit.
"The man's doing it right now," Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said, per MLB.com. "We love to have him. He's a great guy. He deserves all the success on the field and off the field with his music career."
