When the season began, Jose Iglesias was on the back burner as a veteran struggling in the minor leagues.
He's now a vital piece for the Mets, even more so now with Francisco Lindor likely missing this week's series against the Nationals with a back injury.
Monday night marked the first time that Iglesias started at shortstop for the Mets.
This isn't anything new: He added some game-tying production to the year, hitting the tying run in the eighth inning when the team was up 2-1 going into the 10th inning, adding to his already impressive numbers with runners in scoring position (now 18-for-47 with 22-for-25 RBI).
“The only thing that's going to change is my playing time. There's no time to rest. I have to go out there and give it my all,” said Iglesias, who is currently on a 10-game hitting streak. “That's why I'm here. I'm happy to be able to do that. Like I said, I just want to do my job and help the team until the end.”
Before the game, manager Carlos Mendoza explained the decision to play Iglesias at shortstop.
Prospect Luisángel Acuña started at shortstop Saturday and replaced Lindor at shortstop in the second inning Sunday, but Mendoza wanted to add another left-handed hitter to the lineup to face Jake Irvin.
So he moved Iglesias to shortstop and started Eddie Alvarez at second base.
“He's played shortstop his whole career, so I'm really happy to have him there,” Mendoza said. “Acuña will get some playing time, and I'm happy to have Alvarez at second base. We'll just try to match up and play as best we can.”
Iglesias, 34, spent all of last year in the minor leagues but turned back the clock this season.
Since being called up on May 31, he has been a driving force for the team.
Iglesias is batting .323/.372/.436 with an .808 OPS, which would be the best of his 12-year major league career.
The biggest issue for Iglesias was his defense.
In recent years, his range has narrowed.
That was why the Mets didn't bring him up north after spring training.
“He's worked so hard and you've got to give him credit for that and a lot of people who helped him in the minor leagues and should continue to help him here,” Mendoza said. “It starts with the player himself. When they told him he wasn't going to make the team in spring training, it would have been easy for him to just go home. He was asking, 'If I'm going to Triple-A, what do I have to do to get back?'
It's hard to imagine what the Mets would be like without him.
Not only will Lindor be sidelined, but Jeff McNeil will also miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a broken wrist on Sept. 6. Iglesias has gone from a luxury to a necessity.
