Ultimate NY Mets fan favorite Jose Iglesias added a new line to his resume

Maybe the New York Mets were right for not welcoming Jose Iglesias back. Just a .182/.250/.182 slash line through his first 12 plate appearances, he hasn’t hit the ground running as a member of the San Diego Padres. Could he be saving that magic for after a DFA, waiver claim, and triumphant return? Don’t hold your breath. The Mets committed to trying to get whatever they could out of their young infielders and even if things aren’t going smoothly, we have Jeff McNeil coming back and a late season arrival for Ronny Mauricio to try and beef up the competition.

Iglesias will forever remain a Mets fan favorite. Now in his 13th MLB season, there’s a lot he has done. A brand new box was checked off on Tuesday when he started the game in left field only to move to second base after two innings on defense.

He couldn’t hide from the ball in Sacramento. A high pop fly in deep left/center was one of two putouts he had in left field. It might have looked a little awkward, but he got the job done as he often did for the Mets last year.

Jose Iglesias playing a new position at 35 was a surprise to see

The Padres haven’t had much use for Iglesias. One start at second base and another at third base, they haven’t been starved to use him. An early exit from second baseman Jake Croneworth which led to the abbreviated left field experience of Iglesias could be all it takes to get him into more games.

There certainly seems to be room for Iglesias as more than a middle infielder off the bench. Adding left field to his repertoire, even as a part-timer, can both extend his career and get him on the field for the Padres more than he has already. The Padres have used Jason Heyward (batting .125) and Brandon Lockridge (batting .222) as their primary left fielders with Gavin Sheets getting a few starts. However, he’s more of a DH.

Every MLB team passed on handing Iglesias a contract with a major league guarantee this offseason. It wasn’t until the Padres invited him to spring training that he eventually signed, much to the chagrin of those who had hoped he could return and be a factor yet again.

There may not be a Mets player who spent as short a period here who became as beloved as Iglesias. Clearly entering the twilight of his MLB career while in the infancy of what could be an incredibly successful and lengthy time as a singer, we’ll watch from afar to see if he does anything else for the first time and quietly cheer for him in all but games he plays against the Mets.