| Jose Iglesias | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Iglesias with the Mets in 2024 | |
| Free agent | |
| Shortstop /Second baseman | |
| Born: (1990-01-05)January 5, 1990 (age 35) Havana, Cuba | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 8, 2011, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .279 |
| Hits | 1,207 |
| Home runs | 54 |
| Runs batted in | 428 |
| Stolen bases | 70 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jose Antonio Iglesias Alemán (born January 5, 1990) is a Cuban-born American professionalbaseballshortstop andsecond baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theDetroit Tigers,Cincinnati Reds,Baltimore Orioles,Los Angeles Angels,Colorado Rockies,New York Mets andSan Diego Padres, as well as amusical artist. He made his MLB debut in 2011 with theBoston Red Sox, and has also played for the . Listed at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and 195 pounds (88 kg), he bats and throws right-handed.
While in Cuba, Iglesias played withLa Habana of theCuban National Series. With pitcherNoel Argüelles, Iglesias defected from the Cuban juniornational team while in Canada in July 2008.[1] Iglesias signed as an international amateurfree agent with theBoston Red Sox in September 2009.[2] Prior to the 2011 season, Iglesias was the sole Red Sox prospect on theMLB.com annual list of top 50 baseball prospects, where he was ranked 42nd.[3]
In March 2011, Iglesias was optioned to theTriple-APawtucket Red Sox. Iglesias was called up by the Red Sox and made his major league debut on May 8, 2011, as a defensive substitute forJed Lowrie in the ninth inning of a 9–5 win over theMinnesota Twins. In the next game, he represented the game-winning run, scoring from first base on aCarl Crawford double in the 11th inning.[4] On May 11, 2011, Iglesias made his first MLB start due toJed Lowrie being sick.[5]
Iglesias started the 2012 season in Pawtucket. He was called up to Boston May 1 after an ailing back sidelinedKevin Youkilis,[6] but he did not appear in a game before being sent back down to Triple-A. Iglesias also appeared late in the 2012 season to back upMike Avilés, and hit his first career home run during this stretch.
Entering 2013, Iglesias was ranked as the 10th best prospect in the Red Sox organization,[7] and 96th on the MLB.com Top 100 Prospects list.[8] He started the season in Boston, going 9-for-20 with two doubles and one RBI in six games, but was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket afterStephen Drew was activated on April 10. He was recalled by the Red Sox on May 24 when third basemanWill Middlebrooks was placed on the DL. Iglesias excelled while splitting time between shortstop and third base, remaining in the starting lineup even after Middlebrooks returned from the DL. Despite being known primarily for his defense, Iglesias batted .420 for a stretch of over 100 at-bats after being recalled, including an 18-gamehitting streak that was broken on June 19 against theTampa Bay Rays. For his efforts, he was named theAmerican League Rookie of the Month for June. Iglesias started the 2013 season playing 63 games with a .330 batting average, a home run, and 19 RBIs while with Boston.
On July 30, Iglesias was traded to theDetroit Tigers in a three-team deal that sentJake Peavy andBrayan Villarreal to theBoston Red Sox andAvisail García andFrankie Montas to theChicago White Sox.[9] Iglesias chose jersey No. 1, making him the first Tigers player to wear it sinceLou Whitaker retired in 1995.[10] Following the 50-game suspension given to Tigers' starting shortstopJhonny Peralta on August 5 for his connections to the South FloridaBiogenesis clinic, Iglesias was named the Tigers' new everyday shortstop.[11]
For the rest of the 2013 season with the Tigers, Iglesias batted .259 with two home runs, and 10 RBIs in 46 games. Overall in 2013, Iglesias hit .303 with 3 home runs and 29 RBIs in 109 games combined with both the Red Sox and Tigers. On the field, he committed 6 errors in 357 chances. Iglesias was part of the Tigers' 25-man active roster for their postseason run. During the postseason, Iglesias batted .231 with one RBI.[citation needed] Iglesias finished second in theAmerican League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013, being edged out byWil Myers.[12]
On January 8, 2014, Iglesias and the Tigers agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $1.65 million. Although Iglesias was under team control through 2018, his 2014 salary had yet to be determined after the contract he signed with the Red Sox as an amateur free agent expired.[13] Iglesias missed the entire2014 season due to stress fractures in both of his shins.[14]
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On July 6, 2015, Iglesias was named as a reserve for the American League at the2015 All-Star Game.[15] On September 5, it was announced that Iglesias suffered a non-displaced small fracture in his right middle finger at the PIP joint after being hit on the hand by a pitch, and the team announced he would be out for at least two weeks.[16] With the Tigers later falling out of the AL Central race, the team elected to not activate him from the DL for the remainder of the season. During the2015 season, Iglesias posted a .300 batting average in 416 at-bats, with 17 doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs.
On January 15, 2016, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Iglesias, agreeing on a one-year, $2.1 million contract.[17] Iglesias made one trip to the disabled list in 2016, after suffering a left hamstring strain in August,[18] but still reached career highs with 137 games, 467 at-bats and 26 doubles, and had the lowest strikeout percentage of all major league baseball players (9.7%), as he also had the highest contact percentage on his swings in the major leagues (91.2%).[19][20] He finished the season with a .255 batting average, 4 home runs and 32 RBI.
Following the season, Iglesias was named aGold Glove Award finalist for shortstop, along withFrancisco Lindor andAndrelton Simmons. With just five errors in 574 chances, he posted an AL-best .991fielding percentage. His 11.6ultimate zone rating (UZR) ranked third among AL shortstops.[21]
On January 13, 2017, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Iglesias, agreeing on a one-year, $4.1 million contract.[22] Iglesias batted .255 during the 2017 season. Despite appearing in just 130 games due to injuries, he set career highs in doubles (33), home runs (6) and RBI (54).
On January 17, 2018, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Iglesias, agreeing on a one-year, $6.275 million contract.[23] Iglesias batted .269 during the 2018 season after appearing in 125 games, and stole a career-high 15 bases. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on September 14 with a lower abdominal strain, effectively ending his season.[24]
On February 23, 2019, Iglesias signed a minor league deal with theCincinnati Reds that included an invitation tospring training. The one-year contract included a guaranteed $2.5 million salary with up to $1 million in additional incentives.[25] Expected to back up starting second basemanScooter Gennett, Iglesias became a starter for the Reds when Gennett was injured late in spring training.[26]
In 2019 he batted .288/.318/.407, while reaching career highs in home runs (11) and RBI (59). He made contact with the highest percentage of pitches he swung at outside the strike zone (82.6%) of all National Leaguers.[27]
On January 7, 2020, Iglesias signed with theBaltimore Orioles on a one-year deal worth $3 million. The deal included a club option for 2021 at an additional $3 million.[28]
On July 24, 2020, Iglesias was the starting shortstop, making his Orioles debut on Opening Day against theBoston Red Sox. He slashed .373/.400/.556 with 17 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBI in 39 games despite lower-body injuries limiting him to 22 defensive starts in2020.[29]
One month after the Orioles had exercised his $3.5 million club option on November 1,[30] Iglesias was traded to theLos Angeles Angels for minor-league right-handed pitchers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto on December 2, 2020.[29] Iglesias played in 114 games for the Angels, hitting .259 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs.[31] On September 3, 2021, the Angels released Iglesias, clearing roster space for pitcherJanson Junk.[32]
On September 6, 2021, Iglesias was signed by theBoston Red Sox.[33] He made his formal return to the team later that day when he entered as a defensive substitution forTaylor Motter in the top of the 8th inning. Through the end of the regular season, Iglesias appeared in 23 games with Boston, including 14 starts at second base, while batting .356 with one home run and 7 RBIs.[31] While the Red Sox advanced to the 2021 postseason, Iglesias was ineligible, due to joining the organization after August 31. On October 6, Boston assigned him outright to Triple-A.[34]
On March 16, 2022, Iglesias signed a one-year contract with theColorado Rockies.[35] Iglesias appeared in 118 games for the Rockies, slashing .292/.328/.380 with 3 home runs and 47 RBI across 439 at-bats. He became a free agent following the season.
On March 9, 2023, Iglesias signed a minor league contract with theMiami Marlins organization.[36] On March 26, the Marlins announced that Iglesias had not made the Opening Day roster. Rather than exercising his opt-out clause, Iglesias chose to accept an assignment to the Triple-AJacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.[37] On April 20, Iglesias triggered the opt-out clause in his contract and elected free agency.[38]
On April 25, 2023, Iglesias signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres organization.[39] On May 25, Iglesias opted out of his contract and became a free agent.[40] Iglesias re-signed with the Padres on a new minor league contract on May 30.[41] He played in 28 games for the Triple-AEl Paso Chihuahuas, hitting .317/.356/.537 with 4 home runs and 27 RBI. On June 19, Iglesias again opted out of his minor league contract and became a free agent.[42]
On December 4, 2023, Iglesias signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets.[43][44] He began 2024 with the Triple–ASyracuse Mets, hitting .273/.309/.442 with seven home runs and 29 RBI.[45] On May 31, 2024, Iglesias had his contract selected and was added to the Mets' active roster.[46]
By theAll-Star break on July 14, Iglesias was batting .380 with a .999 OPS. From May 31 to July 14, the Mets posted a 26–13 record, the best in the MLB. The hit Spanish-language song he recorded, "OMG," became the anthem of the team.[47]
Iglesias took over second base whenJeff McNeil broke his wrist on September 7 in a game against theCincinnati Reds and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[48] In 2024, Iglesias appeared in 85 games for the Mets, batting .337/.381/.448 with 4 home runs and 26 RBI.[49] From May 31 to September 30, the Mets posted a 66–40 record, the best in MLB.[50] Iglesias also finished the season with a 22-gamehitting streak, batting .395 (34-for-86) with one home run and 4 RBI between September 6 and 30.[51]
On March 5, 2025, Iglesias signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres that included an invitation to spring training.[52] On March 23, it was announced that he made the Padres' Opening Day roster.[53] His contract was officially selected on March 27.[54] On August 12, Iglesias hits a two-run home run against the Giants, making his first home run of the season. After the Padres lost to the Cubs, series 2-1 on the postseason, Iglesias finished the season with 36 RBIs, 3 home runs, and a batting average of .229.
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On June 25, 2018, Iglesias became anaturalized United States citizen.[55] Iglesias had a son born inCoconut Grove, Florida a day beforeHurricane Irma arrived in the area in 2017 and a daughter born in June 2019.[56] Iglesias is also a Latin Pop music artist who performs under the name Candelita, translating to "little candle" in Spanish. His single "OMG" hit number 1 on theiTunes Latin Pop charts in late June 2024 and debuted at number 1 on theBillboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart the following month.[57][58] The song caught on among his teammates and fans and he performed it atCiti Field on June 28 after a Mets victory over theHouston Astros.[59] He performed "OMG" at the2024 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.[60]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | ALRookie of the Month June 2013 | Succeeded by |
