2) Jose Iglesias
Has there ever been a more unexpected Mets fan favorite than Jose Iglesias? His heart. His hustle. The results on the field. The timing of how he arrived just in time to save the Mets from despair in 2024. All of it made him one of the most beloved minor league signings turned bench player turned legitimate everyday player.
No team bought fully into the .337 he hit last year with the Mets. Predictably, the San Diego Padres haven’t enjoyed him nearly as much as we did. He has proven the rest of the league, and maybe even the Padres, right for their assessment of what he had in store for this season.
Slashing .233/.292/.270 this season for the Holy Fathers of Southern California, it’s a far cry from what Mets fans envisioned he could offer them had he been re-signed. Iglesias has yet to go yard. With runners in scoring position, he has a pedestrian .620 OPS. Batting a desirable .267 in these situations, he hasn’t been completely useless if you can accept mostly singles.
No doubt a positive influence behind the scenes, Iglesias is showing his age. The season totals are actually well below what he typically will offer. Iglesias, even before joining the Mets, was regularly a high batting average guy.