Baseball is usually about stats. It’s about exit velocity, launch angles, and earned run averages. But sometimes, a season turns on a vibe. A song. Honestly, if you told a Mets fan in May 2024 that their season would be rescued by a Latin pop single written by a journeyman infielder, they would have probably asked you to leave the bar. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. The Jose Iglesias Oh My God song, officially titled "OMG," didn't just climb the Latin charts; it became the heartbeat of a locker room that looked dead on arrival.
It was June. The Mets were double-digit games under .500. They were, frankly, embarrassing to watch.
Then came Candelita.
That’s the stage name Jose Iglesias uses. He’s been in the big leagues forever—Detroit, Cincinnati, Colorado—but he spent the start of 2024 in the minors. When he got the call-up to Queens, he brought a demo of a song he’d been working on. He didn’t just bring a glove; he brought a literal anthem. It started playing after wins. Then it started playing after home runs. Suddenly, the most cynical fan base in professional sports was wearing "OMG" t-shirts and dancing in the stands. It was weird. It was beautiful.
The Viral Moment at Citi Field
The turning point happened on June 28, 2024. The Mets had just beaten the Houston Astros. Usually, players shake hands, do a quick interview, and head to the showers. Not this time. Iglesias grabbed a microphone, stood on the infield dirt, and performed "OMG" live while his teammates jumped around him like backup dancers. You don’t see that in MLB. You just don't.
Usually, veteran players are "too cool" for that kind of stuff. But look at the footage from that night. You see Francisco Lindor, a legitimate superstar, beaming. You see the pitchers, guys who are usually stoic and grumpy, screaming the lyrics. It broke the tension of a long, failing season.
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The song itself is a high-energy Latin pop track. It’s catchy, sure, but the power came from the timing. Music has this weird way of bonding people in high-pressure environments. When the Jose Iglesias Oh My God song hit No. 1 on the iTunes Latin digital song sales chart, it wasn't just because it was a "good" song. It was because the Mets were winning. And they were winning because they were having fun for the first time in years.
Why "OMG" Actually Worked (Beyond the Catchy Beat)
Most player-produced music is... bad. Let’s be real. We’ve all heard the vanity projects from athletes trying to be rappers or country stars. Usually, it’s a distraction. But Iglesias is different. He actually has a background in music, and the production quality on "OMG" is legitimately professional.
He didn't make the song about himself.
The lyrics are about celebration, gratitude, and the "Oh My God" feeling of a great moment. It was selfless. In a sport where everyone is worried about their next contract, Iglesias was worried about the energy in the dugout. He gave the team a shared identity. When a player hit a home run, they’d walk into the dugout and be greeted by a giant "OMG" sign. They turned the game into a party.
The Impact on the Standings
Let’s look at the numbers, because they don't lie.
On June 1st, the Mets were 24-33.
By the time the "OMG" hype peaked in July, they were the hottest team in baseball.
They went 16-8 in June.
They kept that momentum through the summer.
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Iglesias himself wasn't just a mascot. He was hitting over .300. He was playing elite defense at second base. He was proving that you can be a multi-hyphenate creator and still be a "gritty" ballplayer. It’s a rare combo. Usually, if a player is focused on a music career, the media shreds them for not being "focused on the game." Iglesias shut that narrative down by performing on both stages simultaneously.
Behind the Production of "OMG"
Iglesias worked on the track for months before it ever reached the public ear. He collaborated with producers to ensure it had that authentic Caribbean flair that resonates in New York’s diverse landscape. It’s a mix of reggaeton and traditional pop structures.
- The Hook: It’s simple. "Oh my God." Anyone can sing it, regardless of whether they speak Spanish.
- The Rhythm: It’s designed for stadiums. The beat drops are timed perfectly for highlight reels.
- The Authenticity: Iglesias grew up in Cuba. Music is in his blood. This wasn't a marketing gimmick cooked up by the Mets' PR department. It was a guy sharing his culture with his coworkers.
Fans started making TikToks. Grandmas in Queens were doing the dance. It even reached the point where opposing teams had to hear it during batting practice. It became an atmospheric pressure that worked in the Mets' favor.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Song
People think the song was a distraction. Critics said it was "too much" for a team that hadn't won anything yet. But they missed the point. In a 162-game season, the grind is brutal. You’re away from your family. You’re failing 70% of the time at the plate. You need a release valve.
The Jose Iglesias Oh My God song was that release valve. It gave them permission to enjoy the process rather than obsessing over the results.
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Interestingly, Iglesias has stayed humble about it. In interviews with SNY and ESPN, he’s consistently diverted the praise back to his teammates. He mentioned that the song was inspired by the joy he felt being back in the big leagues after a year away. That gratitude is audible in the track. It’s not a "look at me" song; it’s a "look at us" song.
Actionable Takeaways from the OMG Phenomenon
If you’re a fan or even a creator, there’s a lot to learn from how this track blew up. It wasn't about a massive ad budget. It was about context.
- Read the room. Iglesias didn't drop the song when the team was in a 10-game losing streak. He waited for the right spark. Timing is everything in a viral moment.
- Cultural bridge-building. The song brought together the Latin players and the American players in a way that felt organic. Music is the universal language of the clubhouse.
- Lean into the fun. If you're a Mets fan, embrace the kitsch. Buy the shirt. Sing the song. Baseball is a game, after all.
The legacy of "OMG" isn't just a spot on a chart. It’s the memory of a season that was supposed to be a "rebuilding year" turning into a summer-long festival. Jose Iglesias proved that a veteran presence doesn't just mean giving advice on how to hit a slider; sometimes it means giving the team a reason to dance.
If you want to experience the full impact, go find the video of the July 4th weekend at Citi Field. Listen to 40,000 people who have every reason to be miserable instead choosing to scream "Oh My God" at the top of their lungs. That’s the power of a well-timed song. It changes the air in the room. Or, in this case, the air in the stadium.
To really get the most out of this story, you should look up the lyrics to "OMG" and see how they mirror the journey of a comeback athlete. It’s about second chances. It’s about not letting the world tell you that you’re finished. Jose Iglesias wasn't finished, and neither were the 2024 Mets. All they needed was a beat to march to.