Jose Iglesias of the Colorado Rockies throws to first during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Iglesias has been in the minor leagues this season, and hit three homers for Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday night. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Twelve-year Major League Baseball veteran shortstop Jose Iglesias homered three times in his second game back with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, who re-signed him as a free agent several days after he opted out of his minor league contract with the club and elected free agency.
Iglesias, a native of Havana, Cuba, opted out of his minor league deal with the San Diego Padres on May 26, only to come back on a minor league contract on May 30.
The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas (25-28) went on to beat the Las Vegas Aviators (23-30) on the road by the score of 20-5 on Wednesday night.
In the top of the first inning, Iglesias, the second batter of the game, launched a solo home run to left field.
During the bottom of the second inning, Las Vegas would tie the game at one a piece as Max Schuemann laced a line drive single to left field scoring Zack Gelof to make it 1-1.
In the top of the third inning, El Paso would put up six runs, beginning with Iglesias’ line drive double to left field, scoring Matthew Braten to put the Chihuahuas up 2-0.
A few batters later, Jantzen Witte and launched a mammoth grand slam to right center field scoring Alfonso Rivas, Preston Tucker, and Brett Sullivan, and the Chihuahuas went up 7-1.
Aviators starting pitcher Adam Oller hit the showers early, going just 2.2 innings and allowing seven hits, seven earned runs, walking three batters, and striking out two during his performance.
In the top of the fourth inning, Iglesias unloaded a solo home run to center field to extend the lead to 8-1.
The Chihuahuas did not look back the rest of the way, smacking 23 hits and scoring 20 runs. Iglesias’ third home run came in the top of the eighth inning, a two-run home run.
Iglesias has been with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres for two stints already this season. He started the year with the Marlins in Spring Training playing seven games with 15 at-bats; he batted .200 recording three hits, one walk, one RBI, and struck out four times before being assigned to the Florida Complex League circuit with the organization to start the season.
Iglesias was later released by the Miami Marlins on April 20, 2023 and later was signed to the San Diego Padres to a minor league contract on April 25 to Triple-A El Paso.
In 23 games for Triple-A El Paso, Iglesias has batted .323 in 99 at-bats recording 32 hits, 11 doubles, four home runs, 22 RBI, walked nine times and struck out 16 during the 2023 regular season.
Iglesias at 33 years old was a Major League All-Star in 2015 and has played with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, and with the Colorado Rockies during last season.
During Iglesias’ 12-year Major League Baseball career he has batted .279 with 47 home runs and 366 RBI.
The El Paso Chihuahuas will play the third and final game of the series against the Las Vegas Aviators tonight at 10:05 p.m. EDT streaming on MiLB.com with a paid subscription.