Jose Iglesias Is Already Working on His Next Mets Anthem

By
Devon Ivie,
a staff writer covering classic rock and TV

“Every time we win or get a hit or a home run, that’s the song we’re playing.”
Photo: New York Mets/MLB Photos via Getty Images

No, the “G” in the “OMG” remix didn’t stand for Grimace. Months after Mets star Jose Iglesias took the National League, and then the American League, and then America by storm with his joyous acronym bop, the player — who moonlights as a pop star and performs under the name Candelita — hit a home run with the song’s official upgrade. Released on October 11, Pitbull and Silvestre Dangond joined Candelita to give us another “OMG” moment before the Mets begin their NLCS matchup on Sunday. “It started as a song and it became a movement and an anthem,” Iglesias says. “I’m very humbled about it.” The infielder also teased that he “for sure” wants to stay involved with music whenever the season ends, even if it isn’t necessarily collaborating with the team’s honorary purple savior. “We have another great song I’m working on as my next single,” he teases. “It’s another high-energy one that I want to get ready for 2025.” Until then? LFGM!

It was only a matter of time before we got an “OMG” remix with major star power. How did Pitbull emerge as the front-runner?
Pitbull was the right fit for the song from the get-go. I reached out to his team and said, “Listen, we have this song, and I think Pit would be a good fit.” We sent the song to him, he listened to it, fell in love with it, and literally jumped on it. Forty hours later, I got the vocals and everything. It was a dream come true, I’m not going to lie. Having Pit on the track is a pretty big deal. And soon after, Silvestre joined us. It’s a privilege to be on the track with such a big audience.

What made Mr. Worldwide the best fit compared to other rappers?
He’s a very high-energy artist. He connects with people, and that’s what the song is about with the message behind it. If you listen to the lyrics closely, it’s about how fighting for your dreams is always possible. With all of the tough times in life, you’re never giving up. Especially for all of those immigrants, like I am coming from Cuba, crossing the border and trying to come to this great country and have an opportunity to become something. Pit’s energy and charisma was just what it needed.

Pitbull declared that this remix comes from “one underdog to the underdogs of underdogs.” What does a statement like that mean to you when you think about this Mets season?
It’s an anthem. Every time we win or get a hit or a home run, that’s the song we’re playing. It’s our lucky charm. Every fan is singing along and connecting with the vibe and the light. It’s shown on and off the field. What we’ve become as a group is a big family. After every win, we get together in the clubhouse and we’re just connecting. “OMG” has got to be playing in the background. It’s a dream for both me and the organization to create a winning culture.

The Mets have gone 50-34 since your performance at Citi Field in late June. How much should we credit the song for the team’s incredible surge of success and spirit?
The credit goes to all of the players. We’re putting a lot of hard work day in and day out. It’s teamwork. It’s a combination of dedication and, most importantly, energy. When the energy’s right, good things happen. As a group, we understand that we’re putting in the work and we’re taking it one day at a time. But “OMG” got us loose in the clubhouse and brought us closer together. The guys are laughing, dancing, and enjoying it.

Do you feel bad that the Yankees continue to be boring and devoid of players who double as Latin pop stars?
You know, that’s their culture and philosophy. I don’t feel bad about it, but I don’t think they try to avoid it, either. Over in Queens, we care about winning, obviously, and we created a winning culture here. But we know how important it is to have that clubhouse connection and know how important it is to have a group that’s tight, energy- and communication-wise. The off-the-field stuff is super important as well. That goes hand in hand with the field. That’s my perspective. The Yankees have their philosophy and their way to think, and I respect that. But definitely, energy is a big factor in our game.

If you got Grimace to appear on another “OMG” remix, what do you think his rap skills would be like?
I haven’t thought about those details for Grimace. It would be cool to have something going on with him, for sure.

Besides yourself, which other Met would you say has the most promising chance at a thriving music career?
Just me! I don’t think we have another musician in the clubhouse. Nobody comes into my head right now. We’re a room of different talents.

Jose Iglesias Is Already Working on His Next Mets Anthem