Former Major League Baseball player Jose Iglesias is set to add Broadway star to his list of accomplishments, joining the cast of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical "Buena Vista Social Club." Iglesias will play the role of the narrator, a character who embodies Juan De Marcos, a young music producer and bandleader from the late 1900s.
The musical, which centers on legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo's return to the spotlight, is scheduled to begin its run in August. Iglesias's engagement is slated for a six-week period, starting August 27 and concluding October 4.
Iglesias, a 15-year MLB veteran, has previously garnered attention for his musical talents off the field. Performing under the pseudonym "Candelita," he released two songs, "No voy a volver" and "OMG." His song "OMG" achieved significant popularity, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart in 2024 and becoming a rallying cry for the New York Mets. Iglesias performed the song, which he described as being about appreciation, during games and All-Star festivities.
He has often drawn parallels between performing in sports and music, noting the similar crowd reactions. While Iglesias has not officially announced his retirement from baseball, he has not been signed by an MLB team this season.