There are certain walk-up songs that are immediately recognizable. You know exactly who is coming up to the plate at that moment, and you might even be inclined to move along to the music in your seat. That’s how you know a good walk-up song when you hear it, and these are the very best of them, chosen by MLB.com’s beat reporters, for every team in the postseason this year.
BLUE JAYS: Alejandro Kirk
Song: “El Mechón” by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
The Blue Jays pitching staff has some warm-up songs that fit perfectly, like Alek Manoah opening to “No Friends in the Industry” by Drake, but just as All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk has become a fan favorite, his song choice El Mechón by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga has too. While Kirk has emerged as one of the most consistent offensive forces in the lineup, there have been a handful of times this season when he’s stepped on deck as a pinch-hitter and the unmistakable horns of his walk-up song have brought a roar from the crowd. There are plenty of options to choose from in the lineup, but you always know when Kirk is about to bat. — Keegan Matheson
The Rays’ most iconic walk-up selection isn’t even a song. It’s the “Ji! Man! Choi!” chant that breaks out stadium-wide every time the popular first baseman steps up to the plate. But if we must pick an actual song, there are a few fun ones to choose from. Shane McClanahan warms up to “Simple Man” despite a pregame playlist of pop-punk powerhouses. Randy Arozarena’s walk-up song gets people moving. And Paredes cycles through slower, romantic ballads that might seem out of place at a ballpark, including his latest selection. — Adam Berry
YANKEES: Aaron Judge
Song: “Hello” by Pop Smoke
OK, so it has more to do with the player than the tune, but nothing has made Yankee Stadium ‘all rise’ like Pop Smoke’s “Hello” — Aaron Judge’s chosen walk-up song. Especially recently, as Judge took aim at Roger Maris’ single-season home run record, the rapper’s beats prompted crowds of 40,000-plus to stand in the aisles and reach for their phones, all hoping to capture a slice of history. The song features rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie announcing himself as the “king of New York City” — given the reaction to each of Judge’s at-bats, he has competition. — Bryan Hoch
Is there anything more fitting than a player on MLB’s youngest roster having a walk-up song that begins by yelling, “Are you ready, kids?” Guardians outfielder Oscar Gonzalez won over fans’ hearts the second he made his big league debut earlier this year by walking up to the theme from SpongeBob Squarepants. Gonzalez has walked to the plate to this music since he was in Triple-A, as he wants to appeal to the children in the crowd because “it’s a kid’s game after all.” Fans at Progressive Field chant “SpongeBob Squarepants” along with the tune and often finish the song when the music gets cut short. — Mandy Bell
Nothing gets the Minute Maid Park crowd singing quite like Alex Bregman strolling to the plate to “Wanna Be a Baller” by hip-hop artist Lil’ Troy. Once the lyrics fade, the crowd keeps chanting the lyrics… “but there’s got to be a better way!/A better way, better way, yeah.” Of course, Bregman has been known to change his walk-up song frequently throughout the season, so you never know what to expect. This year, he’s also walked to the plate to Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge” – a nod to his LSU days – and “Set it Off” by Lil Boosie. — Brian McTaggart
For as unassuming and personably gentle as he is off the mound, Logan Gilbert is anything but on it, a fiery competitor who mostly lets his pitching do the talking rather than any excessive celebrations. Those differing personalities depending on the situation makes his selection of “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio quite the juxtaposition, but in a quirky way, and it really seems to fit the towering right-hander. He’s used it as his walk-up song since college, always played well before first pitch as he walks in from the bullpen. — Daniel Kramer
BRAVES: William Contreras
Song: “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet
Travis d’Arnaud creates good vibes every time he strolls to the plate with Baby Boy da Prince’s “The Way I Live” blaring, but William Contreras’ choice “Narco” is now the most beloved at-bat song by Braves fans. It’s a great song and it created some good social media chatter this year. When some Mets fans realized Contreras used the same song as Edwin Díaz, they argued the song belonged to their closer. So, Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet’s hit gained even more attention as Atlanta and New York fans battled for more than just NL East supremacy. — Mark Bowman
METS: Edwin Díaz
Song: “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet
With respect to Jacob deGrom’s chilling “Simple Man” entrance, there’s a reason why Edwin Díaz received all that hype for “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet. It’s the best closer entrance going, and it’s become an audio/visual production at Citi Field. For Mets opponents in October, there is no sound they’ll want to hear less than the drum beats and trumpet blasts that accompany Díaz’s jog onto the field. — Anthony DiComo
PHILLIES: Bryce Harper
Song: “Flower” by Moby
Bryce Harper has a few walk-up songs, but he starts every game with Moby’s “Flower.” It brings a dramatic flair to the first inning when the chant starts and he walks to the plate. “Green Sally up and green Sally down, lift and squat, gotta tear the ground.” Then the music starts. Harper’s at-bats always bring a charge to Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park, and this song only adds to the moment. — Todd Zolecki
Adam Wainwright uses a distinct run-out song instead of a walk-up song with the DH now in the NL, but his music of choice has become synonymous with the 41-year-old pitcher sprinting to the mound before a start. Wainwright, an aspiring country music singer who has recorded a few tracks already, sprints out of the dugout to Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country,” which is a nod to his Georgia roots. The music has worked well for Wainwright, who teamed with catcher Yadier Molina earlier this season to set the AL/NL record for starts among batterymates. The duo’s start in Sunday’s regular-season finale was their 328th – an AL/NL record that will likely never be broken. — John Denton
DODGERS: Freddie Freeman
Song: “Baila Conmigo” by Dayvi & Víctor Cardenas
There are a couple of great contenders to choose from in LA Clayton Kershaw has pitched to “We are Young” by fun. for quite some time. When opposing teams listen to that song, they know the future Hall of Famer is on the bump. But Freddie Freeman’s “Baila Conmigo” has been a fan favorite this season. It gets the crowd going, especially Freeman’s son, Charlie, who is the one responsible for selecting the catchy tune. — Juan Toribio
PADRES: Jorge Alfaro
Song: “Volver Volver” by Vicente Fernández
Jorge Alfaro has only spent one season in San Diego, but he’s already a cult hero. That might be the five walk-offs. It might be a laid-back personality that seems to fit the city. But manager Bob Melvin has a different theory: “It’s his walk-up song, I’m convinced,” Melvin quipped. That song is “Volver Volver,” a classic from legendary Mexican singer/songwriter Vicente Fernández — and it’s generally sung in unison by Padres fans at Petco Park. — AJ Cassavell
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