MLB Star José Iglesias on His Historic ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ Broadway Debut & ‘Representing Millions of Cubans’
Categoria: Musica
The athlete and Billboard chart-topping Latin pop artist, who records as "Candelita," reflects on joining the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical.
Por Billboard | 03/09/2026
When José Iglesias got a call inviting him to join Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway, the major league infielder thought it was a joke. “They were like, ‘José, we think you’re going to be a great fit for this show, for this musical,’” he tells Billboard days after his debut on the Great White Way. “And I was like, ‘Who are you talking to?’ They were like, ‘You.’” On Aug. 27, the Cuban-born athlete and Latin pop artist known as Candelita made his Broadway debut as the Narrator in the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical — he also joins the ensemble for the Cuban classic “El Cuarto de Tula” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Iglesias makes history as the first Latin MLB player to grace the Broadway stage. Unlike predecessors like Ty Cobb (1911), Babe Ruth (1920s) or Jackie Robinson (1952) who appeared as themselves, Candelita joins the cast as a musical theater performer. Related José ‘Candelita’ Iglesias to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ New York Mets’ Jose Iglesias, a.k.a. Candelita, Achieves First No. 1 on a Billboard Chart With ‘OMG’ Buena Vista Social Club Heading to Broadway in 2025 Iglesias spent 13 seasons in the majors with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and New York Mets. But this role lands beyond a sports-to-stage crossover: He grew up in Cuba hearing the music of Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo and Ibrahim Ferrer. “Every night is such a unique, magical experience,” says Iglesias, whose 2024 single “OMG” became a Mets anthem that year, and topped Billboard ’s Latin Digital Song Sales chat. “It’s a privilege and a beautiful responsibility to have Cuban music on our shoulders on a stage like Broadway.” Now, he is bringing his own story — and Cuban music — to a theater packed nightly with audiences. He talks about the experience with Billboard below. You’ve played in packed ballparks, but what did it feel like to walk onto a Broadway stage for the first time? Special. It’s a different energy. It’s completely different than a baseball field. It’s very fun, I’m not going to lie. Every night is such a unique, magical experience. You can notice the difference depending on the audience, too. Sometimes it’s more of a dancing-type theater; some nights it’s more of a listening theater. It depends on the people — and how many drinks [they’ve had]. It’s super fun. José “Candelita” Iglesias makes his Broadway debut on the Buena Vista Social Club on Thursday, Aug. 27. Credit: Laurel Hinton You’re the first MLB player to appear as a narrator and musical performer on Broadway! When did the magnitude of that sink in? It still hasn’t yet. When that phone rang, I thought it was like a joke. They were like, “José, we think you’re going to be a great fit for this show, for this musical.” And I was like, “Who are you talking to?” They were like, “You.” It’s been nothing