Good things happen when Iglesias plays

Once again, Jose Iglesias stars in the Mets' rally that turned into a victory.

All 30 baseball teams try to find that one guy who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. As in knowing how to make a winning play, whether defense or offense.

Those guys are hard to find, and it’s hard to teach them to do those things.

That’s why it’s strange Jose Iglesias was out of Major League Baseball last year. Not even him playing 28 games for the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A El Paso team had any team interested. Maybe it’s because he never fit the analytical mold of a baseball player. Whatever that is.

The Mets were the only team to call for his service on Dec. 5. They signed him to a minor-league deal and invited him to spring training.

This transaction did not cause a reaction by the Mets fans and the media. Everyone figured he would show the Mets and the rest of the 29 baseball teams that he can still play baseball. In other words, it was nothing more than a tryout.

Iglesias did not even make the team when the Mets went up north from Port St. Lucie to start the season. He settled for playing for the Mets’ Triple-A Syracuse team to start the season. He hoped the Mets called him up or some team became interested in him while he was toiling there.

The Mets called up Iglesias on May 31. Once again, it barely registered a reaction.

It turned out that the move was beneficial for him and the Mets. His persistence and willingness to play in the minors paid off for him. For the Mets, he was instrumental to this team’s success, as the team took off by going 65-40 the rest of the season once he got called up.

His play certainly served notice. He finished the season with a 24-game hitting streak after hitting .337 in 85 games with an .830 OPS.

Iglesias, the creator of the OMG! song, continued to provide another OMG! moment for the Mets on Tuesday afternoon. With two outs in the fifth inning, he had no choice but to make a head-first slide to first to be safe and keep the inning alive. It paid off for him. Not only did the Mets tie the game after he was safe, but they scored five runs in that inning en route to an 8-4 Game 1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series at American Family Field.

Even if the Mets sparkplug was out, it was hard to second-guess him here. He’s a role player. He knows what to do in these situations. He has played baseball for a long time to know the tricks of the trade. He went with his gut.

This was a smart baseball play from a smart baseball player. This is who Iglesias is. He knows how to win. He knows what he’s doing. There’s a reason he has had a great reputation in baseball all these years.

Guys like Iglesias don’t make these rash decisions. He obviously knew what he was doing, and he was willing to deal with it if it didn’t work. That’s why he is a winner. He sticks with his convictions, and he deals with the consequences.

If he does not slide, who knows if the Mets win the game, let alone tie the game at 4 when Tyrone Taylor scored?

This guy is just tough. He is a baller. The Mets haven’t had a player like that in a long time. The more you watch Iglesias, the more you appreciate him.

If Francisco Lindor is the Mets MVP, then Iglesias should be the Mets’ unsung hero.

He just came off a game where his RBI single off Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias tied the game at three in the Mets’ six-run eighth inning in Game 1 of the Mets’ 8-7 win against the Braves in a doubleheader at Truist Park on Monday afternoon.

The toughness and intelligence Iglesias brings have earned respect from his teammates. All they can do is marvel at how he does this when the moment finds him.

His defense was also excellent in Game 1 against the Brewers. He and Lindor created double plays that helped an antsy Luis Severino survive a shaky start.

His play and intangibles make him a great fit for the Mets clubhouse. He is respected for a reason.

If he keeps having moments like this, he will be a legend to Mets fans the way Ray Knight, Ed Kranepool and the other role players were when the Mets won championships. He certainly is making his way there.

If the Mets go on a nice playoff run like they did in 2015 or this time finish the deal by winning a championship, the image of Iglesias’ head slide will serve as a symbol.