In September 2013, Iglesias attempted to defect from Cuba.[2] He hid in the mountains of Isla de la Juventud, but was caught and was detained.[3][4] In November of that same year, Iglesias successfully defected from Cuba.[5] He established his residency in Haiti, held an open tryout in Mexico in December 2013,[6] and signed with the Cincinnati Reds on June 27, 2014, to a seven-year contract worth $27 million.[7] The Reds formally added him to their 40-man roster when he arrived in the United States on August 12.[8]