Iglesias Hits Home Run in His Broadway Debut

Midtown Manhattan never delivers a dull day.

A few weeks ago, when I settled into my seat to catch an evening showing in the Theater District, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew nothing of the plot. No reports connecting it to a future movie adaptation had crossed my Twitter feed.

The show was relatively new, in just its second season.

And then, well, the show started, and I was transfixed. A series of tres cubanos, congas, and trumpets swiftly transported me from the concrete jungle of Manhattan to the sweaty metropolis of Havana.

Oh, and the name of the musical, you ask?

Buena Vista Social Club. Yes, the one starring former Mets infielder Jose Iglesias.

“Candelita” has emerged as Broadway’s unlikeliest cast member over the last two months.

He’s the first Latino player to make the transition to Broadway, just beating out Bernie Williams by months. (The former Yankee will join Iglesias in the Buena Vista Social Club’s ensemble later this year.)

Much like Chris Evans in his first post-Captain America role, it’s evident that Iglesias genuinely enjoys his new gig. He sings with flair, dances the Rumba as well as any other castmate, and plays his part with earnestness. It’s his way of paying homage to the country he defected from in 2008.

At the show’s crescendo, when he leads the closing song “Candela (Finale),” Iglesias really shines.

Perhaps he recognizes his own journey within the song’s lyrics, which reference the play’s thousand-mile journey from Havana to the melting pot of New York. At one time, Iglesias was just an athletic musician in Cuba. And now, after becoming a pop culture icon during his year in Queens, he’s starring in one of Broadway’s leading productions.

And while just coincidental, the song title “Candela” sure does look similar to his stage name, “Candelita.”

Despite the briefness of his acting career, Iglesias’s role isn’t some symbolic cameo. In fact, it’s just the opposite—his baseball career success counts for nothing.

When he enters from stage left, the play is not paused for targeted applause. He’s no longer Jose Iglesias, the former All-Star. He’s the Narrator, in charge of distributing the story of The Buena Vista Social Club. And he does a damn good job. In fact, his performance is so exemplary that his run as the Narrator was recently extended to November 15.

You wouldn’t know you’re looking at a former athlete if you weren’t any the wiser. Only a small footnote in the show’s playbill, noting Iglesias’s temporary addition to the cast, reminds you that you’re in the presence of Candelita.

Even though Iglesias was more musically inclined than the average major-leaguer, it’s still a new experience for the well-travelled middle infielder. While Iglesias’s 13-year major-league career took him to both coasts of America, the bright lights of Broadway represent a new frontier.

Bridging the gap between the two arts of sport and entertainment is nothing new for the now 36-year-old. When Iglesias was promoted to the Mets’ major-league roster, he introduced “OMG”, his own melody, to the world by way of his walk-up song.

Throughout their 65 years of existence, the Mets have enough bizarre moments to fill an encyclopedia. Before 2024, they’ve never had a backup infielder rap on the field to celebrate a victory. No other team had, either.

And yet, after the Mets defeated the Astros 7-2 on June 28, there was Iglesias singing solo at second base, promoting his creation to the masses, until the beat dropped and a flurry of Mets players joined in.

A collaboration with Pitbull and foam signs followed and, by tapping into the power of their best-selling artist (and Grimace), the club stamped their ticket to the postseason. All while Iglesias was carrying a .300 batting average through the summer.

Former teammates Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos and Mets’ sideline reporter Steve Gelbs recently attended showings of The Buena Vista Social Club. Lindor brought his family, once more proving that a double player partner is a partner for life.

The Lindors are far from the only Mets affiliate showing interest in the show. When I attended, a gentleman wearing a replica Mets jersey sat down in the row in front of me. When I departed, a woman with an orange-and-blue “OMG” foam sign graced the exit, punctuating the unusual, yet appropriate for the night, collision between baseball and Broadway.

In his major-league career, Iglesias wasn’t known as a power hitter, tallying just 54 round-trippers over 13 years. And yet, with his sterling performance, it’s sparkling clear Iglesias can add another home run to his ledger.