A Psychoanalysis of 2026 MLB Walk-Up Songs

It’s quite possibly the most high-pressure, low-stakes conversation in the lives of sports fans, making conversation at a sports bar or otherwise…

“WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WALK-UP SONG?”

Now, the culture of walk-up music in the actual world of baseball has changed. You get multiple at-bats, so some guys have 3 to 9 different walk-up songs. We have closing pitcher entrances that are arguably even more invigorating from a crowd-entertainment standpoint and go viral every week now, most recently Mason Miller of the Padres coming out to “Blind” by Korn and having the nickname the Kloser, which just plain rocks.

It may just be what a player’s favorite song is that gets them relaxed or fired up before the at-bat. Athletes constantly talk about whoever is in control of the speaker bringing everybody together in the clubhouse somehow.

But choosing as to what you approach the plate at when all eyes are on you is a bit of a defining scenario at the time that the crowd won’t forget. It sends a statement or a message.

So, let’s take a look at some players around the league and give a comprehensive psychoanalysis about their selections when it comes to their walk-up music selections.

Kyle Farmer (Atlanta Braves) // “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey, “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton, “A Sky Full of Stars” by Taron Egerton

Kyle Farmer is a jack of all trades. Mariah Carey, some country, and then not just Coldplay, but specifically the version from Taron Egerton from the film Sing 2?? That’s the guy you want to talk to.

Reynaldo Lopez (Atlanta) // “Halloween Theme” by John Carpenter

Unbelievably menacing.

Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles) // “Birds” by Turnstile

Pete has long been considered a goober, a good ol’ boy, and the clubhouse fan favorite, and for him to leave the franchise that loved him to sign with the Orioles and immediately assume the identity of the team with a song called “Birds” is what you want out of your captain.

Well done, sir.

Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox) // “You’re Welcome” by Dwayne the Rock Johnson

Yes, it’s from Moana, but having a song saying “You’re Welcome” before an at-bit if you get a hit is incredibly baller from Yoshida. An out, however, and the jokes write themselves.

Tyler Stephenson (Cincinnati Reds) // “All My Life” by Lil Durk, “Afternoon Delight” from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, “Boneless” by Steve Aoki

So Tyler Stephenson wants to party and watch the glory days of mid-2000s comedies when he’s not playing baseball.

That’s the catcher you want building chemistry with the pitchers.

Hunter Goodman (Colorado Rockies) // “What Dreams are Made of” by Hillary Duff

So, Hunter Goodman is a hoss of a catcher who was a Disney kid who wants to take you 400+ feet while the Lizzie McGuire song plays right before it to embarrass the pitcher? What a man.

Christian Vazquez (Houston Astros) // “Papaya – Vaya Papayas” by the Minions, “Cowgirls” by Morgan Wallen

Christian Vazquez walking up to both a song by the Minions and one by Morgan Wallen makes him the official athlete of the Wal-Mart t-shirt section shopper.

Joey Lucchesi (Los Angeles Angels) // “Woke Up This Morning (The Sopranos Mix”) by Alabama 3

Joey Lucchesi has the most Italian-sounding name of all time and walks up to the theme from The Sopranos. BELLISSIMO!

Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) // “Feelin’ Good” by Michael Buble

This is some sick and twisted stuff.

The best player to maybe ever play the game that is always cool, calm, and collected walks up to the smoothest, confident and cocky yet not cocky in your face at all “I’m feelin’ good” right before he likely hits the ball to the sun that sounds like a sawed-off shotgun and then does his Shohei grin is the stuff of sports legends we’ll talk about forever.

Jacob Misiorowski (Milwaukee Brewers) // “The Distance” by CAKE, “WWE: I Came to Play (The Miz)” by Downstrait

Beautiful stuff by the rookie heat-thrower that may be the next big thing here: “He’s going the distance” in that he wants to go all 9 innings, something the Brewers don’t usually allow, and then the wrestling entrance music for his nickname. 

Francisco Lindor (New York Mets) // “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye, “My Girl” by the Temptations

Lindor is nicknamed “Mr. Smile,” and every song he has will likely make you smile.

Amed Rosario (New York Yankees) // “Elly De La Cruz” by T.Y.S.

This is arguably the saddest entry of all-time in that Amed Rosario is walking up to a song entitled Elly De La Cruz, the shortstop for the Reds and his former teammate, and now he’s a Yankee.

Does he miss him and the Reds so bad? Did the business of baseball ruin their beautiful friendship?

Kyle Hart (San Diego Padres) // “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Hart understood the assignment.

Tyler Mahle (San Francisco Giants) // “Rooster” by Alice in Chains and “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Tyler Mahle does not have any baseball reference nicknames related to a bird of any kind, but both of his entrance songs have to do with birds.

We need some answers about the connection, Tyler.

Jose A. Ferrer (Seattle Mariners) // “Someone Like You” by Adele

Ferrer employs the strategy of trying to make everyone in his inning of pitching relief cry before striking them out.

Shane McClanahan (Tampa Bay Rays) // “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

This is kind of the perfect song for Shane McClanahan in that when healthy, he’s an ace and a former All-Star Game starting pitcher, but he plays for the Rays and has never had a quote or moment that you remember at all. He’s a simple man.

Chris Martin (Texas Rangers) // “Texas” by BigXthePlug

It could have been so easy for Chris Martin to choose a Coldplay song since he shares the name with the lead singer.

Nope: he chose the right answer and catered to his audience in Texas.