OMG! Iglesias to make Broadway debut in Buena Vista Social Club

Jose Iglesias has worn many hats. He is a former MLB All-Star who finished second in 2013 Rookie of the Year voting. He’s a singer, with multiple successful singles. And soon, he’ll be trading in his cleats for the stage.

Iglesias, also known by his pop star alter ego “Candelita,” will join the cast of the Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club on Aug. 27, playing the role of the Narrator. In doing so, Iglesias will make history as the first Latino MLB player to appear on Broadway.

“To make that debut in New York City, one of my favorite cities in the world, makes this opportunity even more extraordinary,” Iglesias said in a statement. “I cannot wait to experience the energy of that theatre and create unforgettable memories with the cast, the musicians, baseball fans and the theatre audience. I feel incredibly grateful, honored, and excited for what is ahead. New York, here we come. Buena Vista Social Club, here we come."

Iglesias is no stranger to show business. During his 2024 campaign with the Mets, he released a single, “OMG,” that became the Mets’ anthem as they made a spirited run to Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. “OMG” was absolutely everywhere that year. Iglesias used it as his walk-up song. He performed it on the field after a Mets win in June. It was then played after every Mets homer. He even performed it at the All-MLB Awards that November in Las Vegas. The song made it all the way to No. 1 on the iTunes Latin pop charts.

So hopefully, when Iglesias starts rehearsals for his Broadway debut, the singing is the easy part.

Aside from his pop star ways, Iglesias is, of course, a 13-year MLB veteran. He suited up for eight different teams and last played in the Majors in 2025 with the Padres, when he appeared in 112 games at second base, shortstop, third base, left field and designated hitter. Surely that versatility will come in handy as he embarks on a new chapter on the stage.

Though baseball and Broadway rarely cross paths, if Iglesias were to appear in any show on the Great White Way, this would definitely be it. He hails from Havana, Cuba, and played with the Cuban national baseball team before coming to the United States. Buena Vista Social Club is set firmly in the physical location and cultural backdrop of Havana, chronicling four Cuban musicians from the 1950s through the 1990s as they rose to prominence and charting the impact that communism had on their careers. The musical culminates with these musicians creating the real-life 1997 album “Buena Vista Social Club” that inspired the show, which features dialogue in English but songs performed entirely in Spanish.

The show opened in 2025 and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, taking home five honors for featured actress in a musical, sound design, choreography, orchestrations and a special honor for its live musicians that provide the heartbeat of the show.

"It is an incredible privilege to be part of such a historic band," Iglesias said. "Anyone who truly knows Cuba understands the journey we have endured, so for me, this is a dream come true. To represent Buena Vista Social Club – and to do it on Broadway – is something deeply meaningful and truly special. This musical is unique, powerful, and unlike anything else.”

You can catch Iglesias in Buena Vista Social Club at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York, N.Y., starting on Aug. 27 for six weeks only.