By: Nick CEsare
Baseball, often described as a team sport, is fundamentally a game of individual battles. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a major league at-bat. As someone who’s been in the batter’s box, I can tell you it’s a unique experience, swinging wildly between moments of incredible triumph and crushing loneliness when things don’t go your way. In those crucial moments, it truly boils down to you versus the pitcher, a solitary confrontation under the spotlight.
Think about it. It’s one hitter facing nine defenders. Yet, the hitter can win. Unlike in sports like soccer or football, where even the best players struggle to consistently break through a defense, a single swing in baseball can overpower the entire opposing team. One of my bolder baseball opinions is that the sport’s biggest stars don’t get the national recognition they deserve because their brilliance isn’t as constantly visible as in basketball with players like LeBron James or Steph Curry. Those guys are on your screen for a huge percentage of the game. In contrast, you might go 45 minutes in a baseball game without seeing Mike Trout step up to the plate. Every major leaguer understands that when their name is called, it’s their moment to shine, to transform that at-bat into something memorable, even a party.
This is why the walk-up song is so crucial. It’s the hitter’s personal soundtrack, designed to grab the crowd’s attention and announce their arrival. It’s their party, however fleeting it may be. The ideal walk-up song needs to accomplish three things simultaneously: it should be a personal statement, a crowd-pleaser, and a tone-setter. It’s showmanship. It’s about creating an atmosphere. When you host a party, you want the ambiance to be right, the music to set the mood, the vibes to be on point.
The goal is for everyone to have a good time. You’re at a baseball game, after all! There’s a specific atmosphere to cultivate. A batter’s box appearance isn’t a rave; hitters choose walk-up songs to lock in their focus, not to become overly hyped and lose control. Hitting is about rhythm and fluidity. There isn’t time for a player to get intensely pumped up only to come back down during their deliberate walk to the plate. Minds need to be clear, and the chosen song should speak for the player, projecting their confidence and readiness. Lastly, in compiling this list, I also considered how well each song would fit into a batting cage playlist – a testament to their inherent energy and drive.
Now, I’ve always been more of an offense-oriented guy, never having pitched myself. The best hitters often have the most swagger. Pitchers might be the quirky ones, but I’ve made sure to include some songs that even they might appreciate, perhaps even at their own expense. So, without further ado, here’s my list of the best entrance music in Major League Baseball:
10. Voodoo Child—Jimi Hendrix (Mike Piazza)
Starting with a bit of hometown flavor here. (If there’s a slight New York bias, forgive me, but Citi Field is my most familiar ballpark). “Voodoo Child” was the perfect walk-up song for Hall-of-Fame Mets catcher Mike Piazza. Beyond Piazza’s well-known appreciation for rock music, the song’s iconic opening guitar riff seemed to resonate with his own dynamic presence, almost bouncing in sync with the hair escaping his helmet. Bonus points for nostalgia as there used to be a Jimi Hendrix impersonator regularly outside Shea Stadium in the late 90s and early 2000s. “Voodoo Child,” and Hendrix’s music in general, just command attention. Piazza was the Mets’ superstar, the offensive linchpin. Nothing ignited Shea Stadium quite like Piazza stepping up to the plate in a clutch situation with this song blasting.
9. The Man—Aloe Blacc (Troy Tulowitzki and David Ortiz)
“Oh, come on, more cliché choices, this list is terrible.”
But it actually works surprisingly well. “The Man” is tightly constructed and controlled, which I find oddly calming. As I mentioned before, the point isn’t to get so hyped you can’t dial it back down. It’s about controlled aggression, being ready to unleash when the moment calls for it. Plus, hitters, like anyone, need a little positive self-affirmation now and then. And David Ortiz, in his prime, undeniably was “The Man.”
8. Alright—Kendrick Lamar (Austin Jackson)
It’s a universal truth: we’re all going to be alright. Sometimes, even major leaguers need to remind themselves that they are going to fail at least 7 out of 10 times at the plate and still, everything will be alright. Or, if you’re Austin Jackson and your batting average dips even lower, closer to failing 8 out of 10 times, you might need that positive affirmation even more.
7. Your Love—The Outfield (David Wright, Charlie Blackmon, and others)
Similar to “Careless Whisper” (spoiler alert: it’s coming up later), “Your Love” makes this list because it’s upbeat, fun, and it naturally eases tension, preventing you from gripping the bat too tightly. Plus, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. I remember when David Wright of the Mets used it, and the entire crowd would enthusiastically sing along, belting out “toniiiiight” just as the stadium sound system faded out. David Wright isn’t exactly known for his cutting-edge musical taste (remember his use of Saliva’s “Ladies and Gentlemen”… cringe), but “Your Love” was a home run, musically speaking. For Charlie Blackmon, it’s an especially fitting choice because he’s a centerfielder, known for covering a lot of ground, just like the song covers musical ground in a catchy, feel-good way. And with his signature beard, you just know Blackmon’s music choices are going to have some unexpected depth.
6. Can’t Stop—Red Hot Chili Peppers (Anthony Rizzo)
Used by the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo in the iconic Wrigley Field. What I love most about “Can’t Stop” as a walk-up song is how it builds and builds from the intro without ever becoming overwhelming or losing control. It gets the player pumped up just enough, perhaps even a bit more aggressively than “The Man,” but with the same sense of controlled energy. It’s an instantly likable song, and Anthony Rizzo is an equally likable player. It’s a perfect match for his persona and playing style.
5. Panda—Desiigner (Alex Rodriguez, Lorenzo Cain)
When it comes to getting locked into the zone, “Panda” is a surprisingly brilliant choice. The beat just flows and hypnotizes you before you even realize it’s happened. This is also a near-perfect song for batting cage practice. It does intensify towards the end, but for walk-up purposes, we only need those first captivating 15 seconds or so anyway.
4. Careless Whisper—George Michael (Josh Reddick, Zack Greinke)
An incredibly bold, almost cheeky choice. In 2014, Josh Reddick adopted this as his walk-up song with the Oakland A’s, and it went viral. It takes a certain kind of personality to pull this off without it backfiring. The famously unconventional pitcher Zack Greinke has also used “Careless Whisper” in his walk-up song rotation over the years. Maybe it’s a West Coast vibe thing. I ranked “Careless Whisper” this high because the players who choose it seem to possess a rare and valuable quality: they don’t take themselves too seriously. That’s an incredibly important trait for a baseball player! If you can maintain a sense of fun and lightness whether you’re on a hot streak or in a slump, you’ve already won in my book.
3. Blessings—Big Sean feat. Drake (Robinson Cano, David Ortiz, Jose Reyes)
I’m not even particularly a Drake fan. But I felt compelled to give him some credit because he’s undeniably one of the most popular artists among major league players. And frankly, I’d be questioning my own judgment if I didn’t acknowledge that David Ortiz, Robinson Cano, and Jose Reyes have excellent taste in walk-up music. So, there’s a fast track to a high ranking: play with flair, bat flip with confidence, and exude swagger, ensuring nobody ever questions your choices – musical or otherwise. But let’s be real, big leaguers are blessed. They get to play a game for a living, and they’ve worked incredibly hard to reach that pinnacle. “Blessings” is a fitting acknowledgment of that journey.
2. Circle of Life—Carmen Twillie, Lebo M. (Yoenis Cespedes)
I’m pretty sure I was at the very first game Yoenis Cespedes used “Circle of Life” as his walk-up song. Initially, I thought it was some kind of bizarre Broadway promotional stunt. Then it dawned on me, “wait, no way, is this actually happening?” By Yoenis’s third at-bat that night, a couple of kids who looked around twelve years old were holding up their gloves in a Baby Simba pose. By his fourth at-bat, more people in our section were joining in. By the fifth, it had spread throughout the stadium. “Circle of Life,” and the “Glove-Simba” (or “Simba Glove”?) became a staple for the rest of the season as Yoenis went on one of his now-legendary late-season hot streaks, propelling the Mets into the playoffs. This isn’t just a gimmick; it’s pure Yoenis Cespedes. The legend and cult of personality surrounding “La Potencia” has grown to almost mythical proportions in Queens in a relatively short time.
1. Kashmir—Led Zeppelin (Chase Utley)
For years, it wasn’t truly a Mets-Phillies game at Citizen’s Bank Park until you heard the opening chords of “Kashmir” blasting through the stadium speakers and saw that guy, Chase Utley – S̶a̶t̶a̶n̶ himself – with his signature packed lip, stride up to the plate, take a few menacing practice swings, and dig in. Inevitably, about ten seconds later, he’d unleash some ridiculous half-swing and somehow muscle the ball just over the short porch at CBP for a home run, twisting the knife in my Mets-fan soul yet again.
What makes “Kashmir” truly exceptional as a walk-up song is its tempo. The song possesses a brooding gravitas that allows the hitter to take their time approaching the batter’s box without feeling rushed. There’s a reason they called Chase Utley “the man.” It’s showmanship at its finest. I never want to see Utley top any list of mine, except maybe a list of people I’d least like to be stuck in an elevator with, but “Kashmir” is undeniably badass. This is me begrudgingly tipping my hat to an old nemesis for his absolutely impeccable taste in walk-up music.
