ARLINGTON, Texas – After every victory during the New York Mets‘ recent hot streak, loud music penetrated the walls of their clubhouse with a familiar voice singing a catchy chorus that has raised the vibes of a season.
After the players’ postgame speeches, someone turns the speakers up to the highest volume and veteran infielder José Iglesias’ unreleased song, titled “OMG,” plays over and over again.
When the chorus plays, everyone sings the part that says, “Oh! My! God!”
“We sing it, we hum it all the time,” said reliever Adam Ottavino, 38, who has played with other music-producing teammates in the past but never experienced something as popular as Iglesias’ song. . “This has definitely been the one that has had the most impact on the clubhouse.”
Every time the Mets hit a home run, the players celebrate by singing the chorus of Iglesias’ song. Recently, he has gone beyond the clubhouse and dugout. On New York’s last homestand, “OMG” was heard over the stadium speakers at Citi Field every time a player hit a home run.
In addition to playing 12 years in the major leagues and once making an All-Star team, Iglesias, a 34-year-old Cuban, creates Latin pop music under the name Candelita. He first introduced “OMG” to the Mets as his opening tune upon joining the club from Triple-A Syracuse on May 31. Since then, the Mets (35-38) have coincidentally won 12 of 17 games.
During an interview Wednesday about the song, his music career and his influence on the Mets, Iglesias said veteran slugger JD Martínez urged him to play “OMG” for the team shortly after his call-up. Martínez said he told Iglesias: “Brother, this is a good song. We have to play this. We have to get over this. We have to use it.” The song became a hit. The ritual followed.
“It was all this guy’s idea,” Iglesias said, nodding toward Martínez, who was occupying the neighboring locker.
“Wait, are you talking about my God?” Martinez asked. “The best song of all time.”
From there, Martínez wanted to participate in the interview, looking for the opportunity to poke a close friend and at the same time ask the big question.
Martínez asked: “So, Iglesias, why haven’t you released the song on iTunes yet? You know, so the fans can listen?
With the pained tone of someone who has already heard the same question from the same person on numerous occasions, Iglesias responded: “I know. I know. I know.”
The answer did not satisfy Martínez, who played the role of a tough reporter, so an exchange of opinions ensued.
Martínez: “But people really want to listen.”
Iglesias: “I know. “It’s July 3.”
Martinez: “That’s what you’ve been saying.”
Iglesias: “I know. It’s what’s needed. You have to send it to all platforms. It is a process”.
Martínez walked away with a devious smile and said, “Give the people what they want, Iglesias.”
Iglesias then expanded the context and said: “It is a process and it was supposed to be July 5, but we are moving faster because JD was behind me. But it’s very exciting. I can not wait. I’ve had a few singles. But this…”
Iglesias did not complete his sentence. He simply smiled. “OMG,” he said later, is easily one of his favorite songs.
Iglesias described “OMG” as a song about getting through tough times and staying positive. He wrote the lyrics last offseason. Iglesias described a picturesque scene the night the song came to life: He was sitting at a table inside his home, looking through a glass door at his 150-acre ranch 90 minutes west of Miami, where animals roamed peacefully. , the stars occupied the Sky and his family was having fun. Admiring the scene, he said he thought to himself: “This is the kind of energy I need, and anything negative should just be pushed away.”
The lyrics hit him instantly.
My God, all the bad things have been done there
(Everything that’s bad, push it aside)
My God, give me health and prosperity
(Give me health and prosperity)
For the first time in eight years, Iglesias did not play in a major league game in 2023. He had more time to focus on his music career, he said, but he also wanted to continue playing baseball. The idea of being able to continue helping a team ate away at him. He didn’t want to regret giving up the game too soon.
In early December, the Mets signed Iglesias to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Iglesias has long had a reputation as a skilled outfielder, but the Mets thought he could offer something on offense as well. They wanted him to improve his exit velocities and worked with him to consistently hit the ball with more authority. In 42 games (175 plate appearances) with Syracuse, Iglesias (47 career home runs, .702 OPS in 4,073 major league plate appearances) hit seven home runs with a .751 OPS. Had the Mets not given him a chance, several pro scouts from rival clubs said they would have urged their teams to do so.
Since joining the Mets, Iglesias has made multiple starts at second base as the club’s backup infielder. He is 10-for-27 (.370 batting average) with a 0.3 fWAR. He has played well defensively, and also played hard. In the ninth inning of the Mets’ 7-6 win on Tuesday, Iglesias, who came on in the eighth inning, absorbed a hard slide from Texas Rangers pinch-runner Davis Wendzel at second base while receiving a pass from shortstop Francisco Lindor and still managed to turn. the double play, throwing a perfect throw to first base despite diving into the air. Left fielder Brandon Nimmo, who later compared the play to a quarterback getting hit while throwing to a receiver, ran to the infield to hug Iglesias.
“It says a lot about what’s been going on here lately, how much they care about each other and how much they want each other,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Look, Iglesias has been enormous. Even when he’s not playing, it’s his presence, the conversations in the dugout and always being ready to play. It’s good to have a player like that here.”
For any team, much less one like the Mets, who had a terrible month of May before turning things around in recent weeks, having a guy like Iglesias is important because he plays hard, brings a positive attitude and improves the vibe.
Having a catchy song also helps.
“That is a dream come true,” Iglesias said. “I make music because I love it and I use it as a message to inspire people who are going through things in their lives. It is a great way to convey a message to the world. And I feel very honored by how the guys here have connected with this.”
Mets star first baseman Pete Alonso recently told Iglesias: “Hey, we play it because we love it. We don’t play it just because you wrote it. No. We play it because it is incredible.”
“That means a lot to me,” Iglesias said. “Oh Lord.”
(Photo José Iglesias: Globo Sam Hodde//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
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