Former New York Mets star Jose Iglesias has made a surprising move from baseball to the stage, starring in the Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club. The show, inspired by real events in Havana, recounts the reunion of a celebrated Cuban musical group that recorded their Grammy-winning 1997 album of the same name. Iglesias is currently performing as The Narrator in the production, with his initial six-week run having been extended through November 15. Iglesias, who is nearing the end of a 13-season baseball career, began exploring music under his nickname, Candelita, while still playing professional baseball. His musical pursuits gained attention after he signed with the New York Mets in 2024 and started walking out to his then-unreleased song "OMG." His teammate J.D. Martinez encouraged him to play the full song for the team, and the Mets soon began playing it in the clubhouse as they went on a winning streak. Players began singing along to the chorus whenever a teammate hit a home run, and "OMG" quickly became an unofficial club anthem. The Mets even added an "OMG" sign to the dugout, with players holding it up to celebrate each home run. Iglesias was surprised when he received a call to star in Buena Vista Social Club. "I was in shock. All I had done was baseball and music," he said. He now describes the experience as "a unique opportunity that life has presented to me" and says he is learning to become a rookie all over again in the theater world. He notes that actors work hard to get opportunities like this and that he is learning from his castmates, who are "such great actors and musicians and such great human beings." After becoming a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, Iglesias signed with the San Diego Padres, ending his time with the Mets abruptly. The team had narrowly missed a World Series berth, and Iglesias never got the chance to properly say goodbye. Now, Broadway has given him a way to reconnect with Mets fans. "It's a way to reconnect with all those Mets fans," he explains. Iglesias says he is currently a free agent and that his future is "God’s plan." It could be music, Broadway, or baseball. For now, he is enjoying his rookie season on Broadway.