HOUSTON — Dustin Pedroia called José Iglesias on the final day of the regular season after the Red Sox won 7-5 over the Nationals in Washington to clinch the top American League Wild Card spot.
Iglesias went 2-for-3 with a run and Boston came back from four runs down to secure home-field advantage in the AL Wild Card Game.
It was Iglesias’ final game of the 2021 season because the Red Sox signed him Sept. 6, after the Aug. 31 deadline for newly-acquired players to be eligible for the postseason.
“He called FaceTime,” Iglesias said about Pedroia. “I look at him and he say, ‘Iggy, you did great for us. Now let’s go home. We’ll take good care of it from here.’ That’s the type of thing he would say.”
Pedroia and Iglesias were Red Sox teammates together from 2011-13. They have stayed close ever since then.
Pedroia summed it up perfectly. Without Iglesias, Boston probably would not be here in the ALCS. The Red Sox signed the 31-year-old during their COVID outbreak and he gave them exactly what they needed as a starting second baseman.
Iglesias batted .356 with a .406 on-base percentage, .508 slugging percentage, .915 OPS, one homer, four doubles, one triple, eight runs and seven RBIs in 23 games. He also played excellent defense.
The Red Sox got here with Iglesias and they are taking care of business on the field without him. They beat the Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game and the Rays in the ALDS. Boston trails Houston 1-0 in the best-of-seven ALCS. The Astros won 5-4 here at Minute Maid Park on Friday. Game 2 is Saturday at 4:20 p.m., eastern.
Iglesias didn’t return home after his season ended. He has been front and center in the dugout as part of what he calls “the Uber squad.” There no longer is a taxi squad during the postseason. So Iglesias named the inactive players after the rideshare service.
“I came over and helped this team to be where we’re at,” Iglesias said. “And just continue to be a good teammate and be there for them. And just see the guys growing as baseball players and as a group. And me to be part of it, I’m very happy and excited for it.”
He has put himself in charge of pushing the laundry cart after a player homers. He also has provided an important extra set of eyes during games.
“I pay attention,” he said. “I think that’s my role since I got here is to lead by example. It was to continue to perform for them as well just being a leader.”
Christian Arroyo, who has replaced Iglesias at second base in the postseason, put down a perfect sacrifice bunt in Game 4 of the ALDS. Arroyo told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that Iglesias noticed him moving his back foot during a bunt attempt earlier in the ALDS. They watched video together during the game and Arroyo fixed the issue. He didn’t move his back foot when he laid down his bunt in Game 4.
“He is doing a good job with the cart,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I’ll tell you that. He’s gotten better. The first time he pushed it, he almost hurt Kyle (Schwarber), I want to say. All kidding aside ... without him, I don’t know if we’re here, but communication, understanding the game, watching the game, staying locked in, the guy, he has been great.
“I hate to say this because I know he is going to play for more years,” Cora added. “But I know the coach on our team right now, and that’s his job, right? He is here. He knows he is not going to play, so somehow some way he has to make an impact. He feels that way, and that’s what he is doing. He has been amazing, and I love the fact that he is always talking baseball. He enjoys it, and I know he wants to win a World Series ring. And he is doing his part.”
You have to wonder, could Iglesias be headed for a coaching career once his playing career ends?
“Not any time soon,” Iglesias said. “I really don’t know. Things can change. But as of right now, no chance. I think when I’m ready to go home, I just want to be a father and have that full-time responsibility like a normal human being.”
Iglesias said he would like to re-sign with the Red Sox for the 2022 season.
“I love it here. I love the group,” Iglesias said. “I feel very comfortable. I’m very familiar with this division. So it’s a yes.”
Iglesias, a shortstop throughout his career, would be willing to play second base again.
“I feel very comfortable,” he said. “I’m a shortstop but I feel very comfortable at second. I make the transition very smooth. And it’s just another tool that I have now that I feel very comfortable to play. So I’m not just an everyday shortstop. I can be an everyday second baseman.”
Iglesias is trying to win his second World Series ring with Boston. He received a 2013 ring after Boston traded him to the Tigers midseason for Jake Peavy. Ironically, Iglesias lost in the ALCS with Detroit to Boston but he still earned a ring because he played for Boston during the regular season.
“It was definitely weird,” Iglesias said. “I was with that team (that year). That was the team that signed me. But you know, it is what it is.”
He has his 2013 World Series ring back at home in a safe.
“I was very, very pleased when they won the World Series,” Iglesias said. “I was very pleased with it for sure.”
He called the ring “priceless.”
“That’s what you play for,” Iglesias said. “And to get it with the organization that signed you, that’s even more special.”
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