José Antonio Iglesias Alemán, known to fans around the world as Candelita, is a rare talent who has thrived at the highest levels of two very different worlds: professional baseball and Latin music.
Born in Havana, Cuba, José made his Major League Baseball debut in 2011 with the Boston Red Sox. Over a career spanning more than a decade, his glove and bat carried him across the league—from Boston to the Detroit Tigers, where he earned an American League All-Star selection in 2015, followed by stops with the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, and Colorado Rockies.
In 2024, José joined the New York Mets—and it was in New York that his two passions collided in unforgettable fashion. Encouraged by his teammates, he released “OMG,” a song that exploded into a cultural phenomenon: it topped the iTunes Latin Pop chart, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chart, and became the Mets’ rallying anthem, blasting through Citi Field after every victory during the team’s electric playoff run.2 José continued his playing career in 2025 with the San Diego Padres, where his new music once again became a clubhouse favorite.
But music has always been in José’s blood. From a young age he wrote poetry and studied singing, quietly preparing for a moment he knew would one day arrive. In recent years he has sharpened his craft alongside some of the biggest names in Latin music—collaborating with artists such as J Pro, Pipo, Antonio Barullo, El Micha, Lenier, and Guianko “Yanko” Gómez, and working with acclaimed producers including Gatillo, Motiff, and Pututi.
His artistic journey began in earnest in August 2023 with the release of his debut single, “Tambor”—the announcement of a new chapter and his official arrival as a recording artist. Since then, Candelita has released a steady stream of songs, including “Cantinero,” “No Voy a Volver” (a collaboration with Cuban singer Lenier), “Te Lo Advertí,” “Perdóname Padre,” and “Nadie Sabe Na.”
Charismatic, versatile, and endlessly driven, Candelita has captivated audiences on the field and on the stage alike. As he pours his energy into music full-time, one thing is certain: José “Candelita” Iglesias is determined to leave the same lasting mark on the music industry that he made in Major League Baseball.
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