Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott has stepped up to the plate to the catchy tunes of Tai Verdes’ “A-O-K” since 2022, and it’s become more than just a walk-up song – it’s a fan phenomenon. The infectious melody now fills Citizens Bank Park, with fans enthusiastically singing along every time Stott approaches bat. This has turned “A-O-K” into an unofficial anthem for Phillies faithful and even caught the attention of opposing teams, with Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen praising it as possibly “the best walk-up song in baseball.” But how did this tradition begin, and what does Tai Verdes himself think of his song becoming synonymous with Bryson Stott and the Phillies?
Stott’s choice of “A-O-K” was surprisingly simple. As he shared with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, there wasn’t a deep backstory, “I just liked the song.” However, this simple liking resonated deeply with Phillies fans. The singalongs have grown throughout the 2024 season, reaching a crescendo during the National League wild card series when Stott hit a grand slam against Miami. The stadium erupted not just for the grand slam but also for the familiar “A-O-K” melody that preceded it. “It’s really cool, kind of locks me in,” Stott commented on the fan participation. “You almost can’t even hear the actual song. It’s just everybody else singing it, so it’s pretty cool. I love it.”
Tai Verdes has wholeheartedly embraced Stott and the Phillies’ adoption of “A-O-K.” He described the combination of the walk-up song and Stott’s grand slam as a “beautiful moment,” even jokingly suggesting he might have given Stott “superpowers.” Speaking with MLB.com’s Matt Monagan, Verdes expressed his excitement about the stadium atmosphere. “I’ve been all over the world performing that song and to see in the stadium, I mean, it’s where it belongs,” Verdes said. “It’s what it was meant to do. That pitcher had no chance. No chance.” Verdes also highlighted the unifying power of the song, comparing it to soccer stadium chants and even “Sweet Caroline” in baseball, creating a shared experience for everyone in attendance. “Baseball bringing that in, and especially with my music, having it be a little bit unorthodox — it’s a little bit like ‘Sweet Caroline,'” Verdes noted. “The whole game stops because there’s like this ‘if you know, you know’ moment happening for a team.”
For those wanting to join in the Citizens Bank Park singalong, here are the chorus lyrics to “A-O-K” by Tai Verdes:
Living in this big blue world
With my head up in outer space
I know I’ll be a-o a-o-k
I know I’ll be a-o a-o-k
When I see trouble come my way
I’ll be making lemonade
I know I’ll be a-o a-o-k
I know I’ll be a-o a-o-k
Bryson Stott’s walk-up song “A-O-K” has become more than just background music; it’s a symbol of Phillies baseball in 2024, uniting players and fans in a shared, singalong experience that adds an extra layer of excitement to every at-bat.
