Jose Iglesias Bio
Jose Antonio Iglesias Alemán, born January 5, 1990, is a Cuban-born American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 195 pounds, he bats and throws right-handed. Beyond baseball, Iglesias is also a Latin Pop music artist who performs under the name Candelita, and his single “OMG” reached the top of the iTunes Latin Pop charts in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Jose Antonio Iglesias Alemán was born on January 5, 1990, in Cuba, where he developed an early passion for baseball. Growing up in the Cuban baseball system, he played for La Habana of the Cuban National Series, one of the country’s most respected baseball programs. The rigorous training and competitive environment of Cuban baseball helped shape his defensive skills and his understanding of the game from a young age.
In July 2008, while with the Cuban junior national team during a tournament in Canada, Iglesias defected from Cuba alongside pitcher Noel Argüelles. His defection marked a major turning point in his life, opening the door to a professional career in Major League Baseball. After spending time establishing his residency, he signed as an international amateur free agent with the Boston Red Sox in September 2009, beginning his journey through the American professional baseball system.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his signing with the Boston Red Sox, Iglesias worked his way through the team’s minor league system, refining his defensive abilities at shortstop. Prior to the 2011 season, he was the sole Red Sox prospect on the MLB.com annual list of top 50 baseball prospects, where he was ranked 42nd. This recognition highlighted his reputation as one of the most promising young infielders in the organization.
His steady development in the minors eventually earned him a call-up to the majors, as the Red Sox valued his glove work and growing offensive skills. By 2013, he was ranked as the 10th best prospect in the Red Sox organization and 96th on the MLB.com Top 100 Prospects list, underscoring his status as a top-tier young talent ready for full-time major league action.
Jose Iglesias Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
In March 2011, Iglesias was optioned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox before being called up by Boston later that spring. He made his major league debut on May 8, 2011, as a defensive substitute for Jed Lowrie in the ninth inning of a 9–5 win over the Minnesota Twins. The following day, he scored the game-winning run from first base on a Carl Crawford double in the 11th inning, providing an early glimpse of his situational awareness on the bases.
He split time between Boston and Triple-A in 2012, hitting his first career home run late in the season while backing up Mike Avilés. In 2013, he batted .330 with a home run and 19 RBIs in 63 games with the Red Sox, including an 18-game hitting streak and a .420 batting average over a stretch of more than 100 at-bats. His performance earned him the American League Rookie of the Month award for June 2013.
Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers Era (2013–2018)
On July 30, 2013, Iglesias was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a three-team deal that sent Jake Peavy and Brayan Villarreal to the Boston Red Sox and Avisail García and Frankie Montas to the Chicago White Sox. He chose jersey No. 1, becoming the first Tigers player to wear the number since Lou Whitaker retired in 1995. Following Jhonny Peralta’s 50-game suspension for connections to the Biogenesis clinic, Iglesias was named the Tigers’ everyday shortstop.
With Detroit in 2013, he batted .259 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 46 games, finishing the year batting .303 with three home runs and 29 RBIs combined between the two teams. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, edged out by Wil Myers, and was part of the Tigers’ postseason roster.
On July 6, 2015, Iglesias was named a reserve for the American League at the 2015 All-Star Game. He posted a .300 batting average in 416 at-bats that season, with 17 doubles, two home runs, and 23 RBIs. In 2016, he reached career highs with 137 games played, 467 at-bats, and 26 doubles, while posting the lowest strikeout percentage (9.7%) and the highest contact percentage on swings (91.2%) in all of MLB. He was later named a Gold Glove Award finalist at shortstop that year, posting an AL-best .991 fielding percentage.
Cincinnati Reds (2019)
On February 23, 2019, Iglesias signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds that included an invitation to spring training, with a guaranteed $2.5 million salary and up to $1 million in additional incentives. Expected to back up starting second baseman Scooter Gennett, Iglesias became a starter when Gennett was injured late in spring training.
In 2019, he batted .288/.318/.407 while reaching career highs in home runs (11) and RBI (59). He also made contact with the highest percentage of pitches he swung at outside the strike zone (82.6%) among all National Leaguers, reinforcing his reputation as one of the game’s most consistent contact hitters.
Baltimore Orioles (2020)
On January 7, 2020, Iglesias signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles worth $3 million, which included a $3 million club option for 2021. He was the starting shortstop on Opening Day against the Boston Red Sox on July 24, 2020, making his Orioles debut in the shortened season.
Despite lower-body injuries that limited him to 22 defensive starts, Iglesias slashed .373/.400/.556 with 17 doubles, three home runs, and 24 RBI in 39 games, showcasing one of the most productive stretches of his career.
Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox (2021)
One month after the Orioles exercised his $3.5 million club option on November 1, 2020, Iglesias was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for minor-league right-handed pitchers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto on December 2, 2020. He played in 114 games for the Angels in 2021, hitting .259 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs, before being released on September 3, 2021, to clear roster space for pitcher Janson Junk.
On September 6, 2021, Iglesias was signed by the Boston Red Sox, making his formal return to the organization later that day. Through the end of the regular season, he appeared in 23 games with Boston, batting .356 with one home run and 7 RBIs. Although the Red Sox advanced to the 2021 postseason, Iglesias was ineligible due to joining the organization after August 31.
Colorado Rockies (2022)
On March 16, 2022, Iglesias signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. He appeared in 118 games for the team, slashing .292/.328/.380 with three home runs and 47 RBI across 439 at-bats. He became a free agent following the season.
New York Mets (2024)
On December 4, 2023, Iglesias signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. He began 2024 with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, hitting .273/.309/.442 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. On May 31, 2024, his contract was selected and he was added to the Mets’ active roster.
By the All-Star break on July 14, Iglesias was batting .380 with a .999 OPS, and the Mets posted a 26–13 record from May 31 to July 14, the best in MLB. He took over second base when Jeff McNeil broke his wrist on September 7 against the Cincinnati Reds and was ruled out for the rest of the season. In 2024, Iglesias appeared in 85 games for the Mets, batting .337/.381/.448 with four home runs and 26 RBI, while finishing the season with a 22-game hitting streak in which he batted .395 between September 6 and 30.
San Diego Padres (2025–Present)
On March 5, 2025, Iglesias signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres that included an invitation to spring training. On March 23, it was announced that he had made the Padres’ Opening Day roster, with his contract officially selected on March 27. On August 12, 2025, he hit a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants, his first home run of the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Iglesias was selected to the 2015 MLB All-Star Game as a reserve for the American League and was a 2013 AL Rookie of the Year finalist. His 2016 season featured the lowest strikeout percentage and highest contact percentage in all of Major League Baseball, and he was named a Gold Glove finalist that year for his elite shortstop defense.
Jose Iglesias Family
Personal Life
On June 25, 2018, Iglesias became a naturalized United States citizen. He had a son born in Coconut Grove, Florida, a day before Hurricane Irma arrived in the area in 2017, and a daughter born in June 2019. Beyond baseball, he is a Latin Pop music artist who performs under the name Candelita, meaning “little candle” in Spanish. His single “OMG” hit number 1 on the iTunes Latin Pop charts in late June 2024, debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart the following month, and he performed the song at the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby.
2025 Season Performance
Jose Antonio Iglesias Alemán began the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres after earning a spot on the Opening Day roster in late March. He made an early impact at the plate, recording his first home run of the season on August 12 with a two-run shot against the San Francisco Giants. He finished the season with 36 RBIs, 3 home runs, and a .229 batting average.
After the Padres lost to the Chicago Cubs in the postseason, 2-1 in their series, Iglesias became a free agent. His veteran presence, contact skills, and defensive versatility at shortstop and second base continued to make him a valuable utility player in the major leagues.