Former MLB All-Star José 'Candelita' Iglesias to Make Broadway Debut in Buena Vista Social Club

August 21, 2026

Former Major League Baseball infielder José Iglesias, known to fans by his musical stage name "Candelita," will make his Broadway debut as the Narrator in the musical Buena Vista Social Club, joining the production at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York beginning August 27, 2026, for a six-week run. The casting was confirmed this week by the show's producers and reported by outlets including Billboard, Playbill and MLB.com.

Born in Havana on January 5, 1990, Iglesias built a 13-year major league career after debuting with the Boston Red Sox in 2011, going on to play for teams including the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and San Diego Padres, where he closed out his playing career in 2025. He was named an All-Star reserve in 2015, finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013, and was widely regarded as one of the sport's most gifted defensive shortstops, earning Gold Glove finalist honors in 2016.

Iglesias is being billed as the first Latino MLB player to perform on Broadway. "To make that debut in New York City, one of my favorite cities in the world, makes this opportunity even more extraordinary," he said of the role. "It is an incredible privilege to be part of such a historic band... to represent Buena Vista Social Club — and to do it on Broadway — is something deeply meaningful and truly special."

The move builds on a music career Iglesias has pursued alongside baseball under the name Candelita, including the 2024 single "OMG," which reached No. 1 on iTunes' Latin pop chart while he was still playing for the Mets.